By Mike Rudin – Sports Editor
The Hofstra Pride softball team took on the Northwestern Wildcats in an extra-inning thriller that resulted in the Pride with the 6-5 win and extend their winning streak to five in a row.
Freshman Brielle Pietrafesa was Hofstra’s hero of the game in the 10th inning, with two outs, she knocked in Erin Trippi for the game-winning run with an RBI base hit down the leftfield side.
Hofstra starter Taylor Pirone looked to match her previous complete-game shutout win over the Seahawks but she struggled early on.
Pirone opened up the game with a 1-0 deficit after a solo shot by Northwestern’s Andrea DiPrima. She became a thorn in Pirone’s side later on in the fourth inning with her second solo homerun.
Pirone surrendered more two hits and another run in the process, once Northwestern led 3-0, Morgan Lashley stepped up to limit the damage and finished the inning without another run scored.
Junior centerfielder Caryn Bailey provided some much-needed run support with a solo blast to center field that cut the Wildcats’ lead to two runs.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Andrea Filler singled with runners on second and first and she drove in one run off of Lashley.
Filler’s hit tacked on an extra insurance run for Northwestern but Lashley wasn’t fazed with three scoreless innings to follow.
Hofstra bounced back in the bottom of the sixth once Erin Trippi unleashed a clutch three-run homer to tie the game 4-4.
Both pitchers on either side put up scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth but the ninth inning featured mirrored results in different fashion.
Julia Kuhn sent one over the centerfield wall that put Northwestern on top 5-4 in the top of the ninth.
For Hofstra with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Northwestern starter Kristen Wood failed to secure the win with a wild pitch that resulted in the tying run.
Rachel Simodejka dashed for home and she sent it to extras – ultimately leading to Hofstra’s victory in the bottom of the 10th.
Morgan Lashley received the win with seven innings pitched allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and struck out eight Wildcats – her record improves to 8-1.
Caryn Bailey did a little bit of everything at the plate hitting 2-for-3 plus two walks plus she scored one run and drove in one RBI on the day.
Hofstra’s doubleheader against Rutgers University was cancelled due to the weather conditions. The Pride open up a new three game series versus the Towson Tigers, this Saturday marks game one of the series against Tigers, starting at 2:00 p.m.