By Max Sass, Sports Editor
After watching sophomore pitcher Erin Wade record a victory over James Madison to send Hofstra softball to the CAA Championship game, freshman pitcher Olivia Galati responded with the first no-hitter in CAA Tournament history. Galati's 10-strikeout masterpiece helped Hofstra to a 3-0 victory over Georgia State and send Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament.
"I can't even describe the feeling," Galati said after the game. "I am so excited right now and so excited for my team."
Hofstra, under head coach Bill Edwards won its twelfth tournament title in 13 years after its streak of 11 straight conference championships was snapped last year. Edwards was happy with the win but even more pleased for the seniors on his team.
"It is gratifying for our seniors because it was one of their goals to ‘get it back', as they say," Edwards said.
Galati, who was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, said she did not even realize that she had a no hitter until her team was batting in the seventh inning. She also said that her mentality when she had just one out left was to "just go after this batter and try to strike her out."
Junior catcher Laura Valentino, junior shortstop Trisha Dreslinski and freshman right fielder Tessa Ziemba all supported Galati with an RBI each.
Coming off her dominating performance even before her team knew where they were headed in the NCAA Tournament Galati thought her team had the potential to make waves. "We have so much potential to do well against any team we play," she said.
The Pride will head out to Tuscon, AZ for its NCAA Tournament opener. The Arizona Wildcats, the no. 10 seed in the Tournament, will host the regional, which also includes Cornell and the Pride's first opponent Oklahoma State.
Freshman pitcher Olivia Galati (center) celebrates the Pride's CAA Championship with junior catcher Laura Valentino (left) and junior infielder Krista Thorn (right). (Sean M. Gates/ CAA)