The Hofstra Pride softball team split their doubleheader on day two of the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Kentucky, defeating Western Michigan University Broncos and losing to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, March 5.
In the first game, against WMU, both teams were scoreless in the first two innings, until Hofstra went on a tear in the third. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch followed by a throwing error helped give the Pride two runs. Angelina Ioppolo singled out to left field, bringing home Sam Ward for a 3-0 advantage. Hofstra added one more point when Kayla Wilson drove in Ioppolo to take a 4-0 lead at the end of the inning..
Western Michigan could not respond in their half of the of the fourth, and Hofstra tacked on to its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Chelsea Manto scored on a passed ball to bring the lead 5-0. Quickly after, Madison McKevitt connected on a pitch to right field, sending Ward and Brianna Morse home. The Pride closed the inning out with an infield single from Devyn Losco that brought McKevitt in to score, making it an 8-0 ball game for the Pride.
The Broncos answered in the fifth with two late runs after a base hit and an error by Hofstra shortstop Meghan Giordano, which cut the Pride’s lead to 8-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Hofstra added two more scores, reaching a season-high of 10 runs and securing their first victory of the season. Julia Apsel got the start for the Pride and struck out six, allowing just three hits in five innings.
It was a different story in the second game of the afternoon, against Illinois, as the Pride struggled to get anything going in this contest. After a scoreless first two innings, the Fighting Illini erupted for six runs in the third inning. Already ahead 2-0, a grand slam from third baseman Delaney Rummell pushed Illinois’ lead out to 6-0.
In the fourth, Giordano doubled to left-center field, becoming the first base runner for the Pride in the game. However, she was unable to score. Illinois added another run in the fifth off a hit by Rummell, extending their lead to 7-0. After a scoreless sixth for Hofstra, Illinois scored one more time to make it 8-0. Hofstra looked for some offense in their last at-bats, but the Pride ultimately was shutout as Illinois took home the win.
Nikki Mullin got the start for Hofstra and pitched three innings with one strikeout. Annabella Pisapia came in relief, pitching four innings and striking out a career best three batters.
Hofstra wraps up play at the Cardinal Classic with one more matchup against the University of Louisville, on Sunday, March 6.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
