The Hofstra softball team extended their win streak to eight games on Tuesday afternoon, taking down the University of Connecticut Huskies 5-2 at Bill Edwards Stadium.

“Good team effort, got a lot of people in the game… both pitchers were able to throw today, we had some quality at bats and we took advantage of some opportunities,” said Hofstra head coach Larissa Anderson after the win.

The Pride offense got going early in the bottom of the first inning. Sarah Edwards knocked a two-out RBI single into right field to bring home Brielle Pietrafesa, who reached on an error and stole second.

In the top of the second, the Huskies had two runners on after an error and a walk when Carly Cutler delivered a two-run single off of Hofstra pitcher Sarah Cornell to put UConn up 2-1.

UConn starter Jill Stockley was keeping Hofstra off balance with changeups through the first three innings, but she threw one too many as Megan Patierno went deep for the third straight game in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Pride up 3-2.

“Patierno sitting on the changeup and being able to hit it out of the park really set the tone to help everybody out,” Anderson said.

It was Patierno’s fourth long ball of the season, one shy of the team lead. She now has hits in five of her last six games with nine RBI and four homeruns.

Sophomore Kristen Hallam went 2-3 tacking on two RBI for the Pride, boosting her season average to .329. Pietrafesa and Michaela Transue added a hit a piece.

Hofstra’s pitching staff buckled down when it mattered most, they held the Huskies to a .214 clip with runners on base and stranded nine.

Cornell allowed one earned run while walking four and striking out five in four innings, improving to 10-4 on the season.

Sophie Dandola took the mound in relief of Cornell in the top of the fifth and retired UConn quickly in her first two innings of work. She would have to work her way out of trouble in the top of the seventh, but was able to strand two runners on base by striking out Devon Casazza to end the ballgame. The freshman allowed three hits while striking out three in three innings of work to close it out for the Pride.

Hofstra is back in action on Wednesday afternoon at Bill Edwards Stadium with a matchup against Fordham University in a game previously scheduled for March 14.  First pitch for this one is set for 3 p.m.