The Hofstra softball team finished the Hofstra Invitational with two more games at home against Syracuse University and Iona College on Sunday, March 20. The Pride lost the first game of the doubleheader to Syracuse, 4-1, and won the second game against Iona, 6-1. Annabella Pisapia took the loss in the first game for the Pride, while Haley Venturini earned the win in the second game. Summer Clark and Alyssa DeJianne started in the circle for Syracuse and Iona, respectively.
The split moves Hofstra’s record to 5-15 so far this season.
Most of the action happened early in the first game, as Syracuse and Hofstra combined to score four of the game’s five runs in the first inning. After Neli Casares-Maher and Angel Jasso reached base to start the game for Syracuse, the Orange jumped on top when Casares-Maher scored on a fielding error from Pisapia. Later in the inning, Rebecca Clyde drove in Jasso with a sacrifice fly and Olivia Pess hit an RBI single to give her team an early 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Hofstra managed to score a run without recording a hit. After Chelsea Manto and Kasey Collins recorded outs to start the inning, Meghan Giordano and Sam Ward drew walks. Angelina Ioppolo was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Pride. Gianna Iaquinto followed suit, drawing a walk of her own that brought in Giordano, cutting Syracuse’s lead to 3-1.
After the first, however, the game turned into a pitcher’s duel. Pisapia settled down for the Pride, striking out three more batters and not allowing another run in the last 2.2 innings of her outing. Nikki Mullin relieved her, pitching 3.1 innings and only allowing two hits. However, one of the hits was a home run by Kelly Breen in the seventh inning, giving Syracuse a 4-1 lead, the eventual final score.
The Pride started the second game against Iona much like Syracuse started the first game. After Manto started the bottom of the first inning with a single, she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and then stole third. Manto eventually scored the first run of the game when Giordano reached on an error from Iona’s left fielder. Then, Ioppolo and Ward hit back-to-back RBI doubles, giving Hofstra a 3-0 lead. The Pride added another run in the bottom of the second inning when Devyn Losco drove in Madison McKevitt with a single, making the score 4-0.
Hofstra responded immediately, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning when Losco and McKevitt each crossed the plate on a throwing error from Iona’s pitcher, Samantha Rieb.
Venturini kept Iona’s bats in check, having one of the best starts of her Pride career in the circle. The freshman pitched her first career complete game while striking out 12 batters and only allowing one unearned run, which came on a throwing error.
The Pride will play next on Tuesday, March 22, at home against Stony Brook University.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
