The Hofstra softball team finished off their weekend in Virginia with an 11-2 win over Hampton University. With the win, the Pride improved to 4-1 in the Blue and White Classic, as well as 7-11 on the season. Madison Burns got the start in the circle, pitching a complete game and earning the win.
Burns continued her dominant run through the Blue and White Classic with her third complete game of the weekend. Over her 21 innings of the weekend, she only allowed three earned runs, lowering her ERA from 5.94 to 4.17. She also continued her control of the strike zone, striking out five batters while only walking two and hitting none. She’s won her last four appearances after taking the loss in her first eight.
The only trouble Burns got into was in the second inning after Hofstra took a 2-0 lead. Burns allowed a hit to the first batter and walked the second batter of the inning, both of which were moved into second and third after a sacrifice bunt. After that, she let up a double that drove in the two runners, tying the game. Burns locked in after that, only allowing four hits, one walk and getting all five of her strikeouts. Her ability to keep batters from hitting the ball in the air allowed the Pride defense to continue to make plays, keeping them in the game until their offense could get a rally going.
After scoring their first two runs in the second inning on a Devyn Losco double and Imani Myint fielder’s choice, both offenses went scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. With the game tied at two, Hofstra’s offense exploded. After loading the bases with one out, Madison McKevitt pinch hit for Kasey Collins and cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. After that, Collins came back in the game to run, where she used her speed to catch Hampton off guard. She stole third base, forcing a throwing error which allowed her to score on the play, helping Hofstra take a 6-2 lead. They loaded the bases once again in the sixth inning, where Angelina Ioppolo was able to drive in their fifth run of the inning with an RBI single.
The Pride was able to add more insurance runs in the sixth inning after Courtney Scarpato hit an RBI single. Her single also put two runners on base for Meghan Giordano, who delivered, hitting a three-run home run – her third of the tournament and fifth of the season. This allowed Hofstra to take an 11-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, effectively taking Hampton out of the game.
Scarpato and Giordano’s hits helped round off a great weekend for the two, as they combined for four home runs and 19 RBIs. The duo accounted for half of Hofstra’s runs in the tournament.
The Pride will look to continue to build on this momentum on Friday, March 15, at 1 p.m. against St. John’s University to start off the St. John’s Invitational in Queens.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
