By Elliot Rubin and PJ Potter - STAFF WRITERS
The Hofstra Pride skillfully beat Coastal Carolina University, 2-0 but suffered a tough, one-run loss to Florida State University on Saturday’s doubleheader.
Despite the Pride offense only scoring two runs, it was more than enough run support for starter Morgan Lashley in a superb outing.
Lashley went above and beyond against the CCU Chanticleers all day en route to a complete four-hit, 10-strikeout shutout performance – a season high mark that reached double-digits for the first time in 2015.
Left fielder Chloe Fitzgerald continued to be the sparkplug atop the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base and scored the first run of the game via a walk, which raised her on-base percentage to .419 after the game.
The Pride’s second and final run of the game came later in the first inning by an RBI groundout from catcher Erin Trippi.
CCU starter Kiana Quolos kept her team close and pitched six strong innings. She allowed six hits, two earned runs and four walks with no strikeouts in the tough-luck loss.
Not a single CCU player had a multiple hit game in the team’s struggle against Lashley. The hits were divided amongst third basemen Kory Hayden, catcher Amanda Daneker and right fielder Kailey Mellen each went 1-for-3 in the game.
After losing a heartbreaking opener on Feb. 13, Lashley won four decisions and allowed three runs in a start since. With the victory, she lowered her season ERA to a remarkable 2.01. The Pride moved back to a game over .500 with the win.
In a pitcher’s duel between Hofstra’s Taylor Pirone and Florida State’s Jessica Burroughs, the Pride fell short in dramatic fashion, 2-1, to No. 12-ranked FSU in game two on Saturday during the Florida Atlantic University Parent’s Weekend Tournament.
Maddie O’Brien was up to bat for the Florida State Seminoles in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out when she hit a walk-off single to right-center field, bringing in Alex Kossoff to cross home plate.
Centerfielder Caryn Bailey was the only offensive threat for the Pride in the game. Bailey hit a solo homerun, her first of the season, in the top of the first inning.
For the rest of game, Hofstra was unable to put anything else on the scoreboard.
Bailey finished the game and compiled three of Hofstra’s four hits of the day, including two for extra bases.
She is now tied for 13th all-time in Hofstra softball history with 17 homeruns with her teammate, Erin Trippi, who hit a single in the second inning.
Hofstra struggled defensively throughout the game, accounting for four errors – one of which led to a run scored for the Seminoles in the sixth inning.
To her misfortune, Senior Taylor Pirone got the loss of the game. She pitched a hard-fought game, tossing 6.1 inning and struckout three. Pirone allowed one earned run and scattered six hits. Her ERA for the season improved to 2.96 after the game.
Jessica Burroughs was given the win for Florida State, tossing a complete game, four-hitter and allowed one earned run. She fanned 11 Hofstra batters, including three in the first inning to strike out the side.