After picking up wins in both of their contests at the Unconquered Invitational at Florida State on Friday in Tallahassee, the Hofstra Pride softball team looked to continue its success with another twin bill on Saturday at FSU.
The Pride (10-5) began the day with a 2-1, 11-inning defeat at the hands of No. 6 Oregon Ducks (17-3). Sophomore outfielder, Shannon Rhodes hit her first home run of the season in the top of the 11th inning to put Oregon over the top.
Hofstra struck first on Saturday in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michaela Transue opened the inning with a single off Oregon starter Maggie Balint. Courtney Scarpato hit a two-bagger off reliever Miranda Elish to set the Pride up with two runners in scoring position and no outs.
After Kristin Hallam struck out swinging, Brittany Allocca and Brielle Pietrafesa drew back-to-back bases on balls to bring Transue home for the first run of the game.
Elish settled down after the fifth inning and was nearly flawless for the remainder of the contest. Elish allowed just three hits and struck out 9 batters in seven innings en route to her eighth win of the season.
Oregon played some small ball in the top of the sixth inning to put a run across against Hofstra’s ace Sarah Cornell.
Third baseman Jenna Lilley led off the top of the sixth frame with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Mack. Cornell was taken out of the game and replaced by Sophie Dandola.
Rhodes reached base on a bunt single off Dandola, while advancing Lilley to third in the process. Lilley then came around to score on a fielder’s choice. Dandola struck out the next two batters to keep the game tied at one.
The next four innings turned into a pitcher’s duel between Elish and Dandola, until Rhodes’s long ball gave Oregon the lead for good. The Pride went down against Elish in the bottom of the 11th to seal the win for the Ducks.
In Hofstra’s second contest of the day, the Seminoles came out looking to avenge their 1-0 loss to the Pride on Friday, and they did just that, shutting down Hofstra’s offense and cruising to a 5-0 victory on their home field.
Florida State (13-6) wasted no time putting a run on the scoreboard. Shortstop Cali Harrod singled on the second pitch of the game against Pride starting pitcher Dandola. Harrod promptly stole second base and came around to score on a base hit by freshman Sydney Sherrill.
Dandola was pulled from the game in the second inning after allowing a single to Sabrina Stutsman and walking Leslie Farris on four pitches.
Sarah Cornell came on in relief, and after a Korina Rosario base knock loaded the bases for Florida State, Cornell walked Harrod to give the Seminoles a 2-0 advantage.
Senior Jessie Warren broke the game open with a bases-clearing double that put Florida State ahead 5-0.
Hofstra’s bats went cold in the Florida heat against the host Seminoles. Sophomore Cassidy Davis fired five innings of shoutout ball, striking out five and walking two batters.
Pietrafesa had Hofstra’s only hit of the contest, a single in the fourth frame.
Meghan King was perfect over the final two innings, retiring six straight hitters to complete the shutout.
