By Steven Wolff -- STAFF WRITER Game One:
The Hofstra softball team pummeled the Elon Phoenix with a six-run outburst in the sixth inning, leading them to a 10-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
Elon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly and a single. However, a single by Caryn Bailey in the third inning would get Hofstra on the board. Then in the fifth inning, Pride shortstop Michaela Transue gave Hofstra a one run lead with a two run homer to left field.
Hofstra would just pour it on from there, including a pinch-hit grand slam by Isabel Hansbury.
“All I was looking for in that situation was a fly ball, but she was able to capitalize, which was great to see,” said Hofstra head coach Larissa Anderson. That home run would be one of Hofstra’s three homers on the afternoon.
Hofstra had a total of 11 hits in the game, including a pair of hits from Bailey, Michaela Transue, and Brielle Pietrafesa. With the two hits, Transue has raised her average to .356 on the season.
The Pride has been a force to be reckoned with in terms of getting on base, as four Hofstra players have over a .400 on-base percentage this season. Hansbury was playing in her fourth career game and doubled her previous career RBI total with one swing.
“I’m not putting them in looking for the homerun, I’m looking for a quality at bat,” said Hofstra head coach Larissa Anderson.
In that situation she just wanted to get a run in, but Hansbury gave her four. Her grand slam was one of four Hofstra grand slams this season.
Starter Jessica Peslak pitched well, tossing five and a third innings, giving up just two runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts. She was the winning pitcher on the day, improving her record to 13-6, with a 4.53 ERA on the season.
As for the Phoenix, starting pitcher Elise Walton took the loss, falling to 7-4. She gave up six runs in about five innings of work. Elon also had 11 hits on the day, but the Pride was able to take advantage of them.
Game Two:
The Hofstra softball team fell in game two of the doubleheader, as Elon recorded a 7-1 victory.
Elon’s Hannah Olson homered in the second inning to give the Phoenix an early 1-0 lead. Hofstra would retaliate in the next inning as catcher Brittany Allocca would single to left center to tie the game at one.
However, that would be the only run Hofstra would score.
“We have to do a better job in knowing what we are trying to hit, where it is very difficult when a pitcher throws such a dominant changeup, that we have to pick one or the other, we have to be able to hit something hard,” said Pride head coach Larissa Anderson.
Hofstra would finish with just seven hits on the day. Elon would then score four runs in the bottom of third, including an Emily Cameron double, and singles from Kara Shutt and Carey Million.
Allocca was the lone Pride player to record multiple hits. On the other hand, Elon got contributions from everyone, as every single hitter in the lineup got a hit.
It would be a rough day for Hofstra starting pitcher Courtney Scarpato, as she would pitch six innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, without recording a strikeout. She was the losing pitcher, falling to 1-4 on the year, with her ERA increasing to 3.97.
As for the Phoenix, starting pitcher Kayla Caruso got the win, pitching the full seven innings, giving up just one run on seven hits. She pitched really well, giving the Pride trouble all afternoon with her changeup.
The Pride has had trouble on the road this season, as they are just 6-8 on the road, compared to 5-2 at James M Shuart Stadium. Hofstra is now 3-4 in a competitive Colonial conference.
“It’s awesome to see how well the conference is doing… We got to play better, our veteran players know the level that we have to play at, and there are no easy games in this conference at all,” said Anderson.
The loss brings the Pride to 18-15 on the season, and the team will look to rebound from its tough loss on Sunday, as Hofstra looks to take the series from Elon. Game is time at 1 p.m.