By Mike Rudin -- SPORTS EDITOR Hofstra Pride softball salvaged a part of the Unconquered Invitational with a 3-2 win over the Bradley Braves in Tallahassee Sunday morning.
The Pride went 2-3 in the invitational, both wins were against Bradley, which helped the Pride’s record remain above .500 (8-7).
Jessica Peslak got the nod for Sunday’s matchup, competing against Braves starter Julie Kestas.
Off the bat, Peslak had to fight an uphill battle after surrendering a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to Alyson Clemente.
Yet for the next four innings, Peslak bounced back and grounded the Braves to four straight scoreless innings.
On the flip side, Hofstra’s offense broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Pinch hitter Isabel Hansbury smacked a RBI single up the middle and Alyssa Cuzzola crossed the plate for Hofstra’s first run.
Then in the fifth, Braves’ starter Krestas got into a jam when Caryn Bailey hit a leadoff double and Brittany Allocca shot a base hit thus ending Krestas’ day in the circle.
Reliever Jaelen Hull came in for Bradley but Hofstra still managed to keep momentum.
After Madison Ambush was hit by a pitch, Lacey Clark then stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded. Clark muscled a fly ball deep enough in center field and Caryn Bailey scored on a sacrifice fly.
Later in the inning, Brielle Pietrafesa contributed with a RBI groundout and Ambush crossed home plate to push the Pride out in front 3-1.
Hull got out of the fifth with an inning-ending double play but the damage was done.
Besides a hiccup in the top of the sixth – allowing a solo shot from Clemente – Peslak and Hofstra’s defense maintained the Pride’s lead to ultimately win with a run to spare.
Peslak threw a complete-game win surrendering two runs and two walks but striking out two Braves batters. Her record went up to 5-4 – her second straight win against Bradley – and Peslak’s ERA dropped to 4.12 after the win.
Krestas’ record drops to 1-7 and the Braves falter to 4-11 overall.
Bailey and Allocca had the best offensive days. Bailey went 2-for-3 and scored a run while Allocca went 2-for-2 at the plate. Clark also did well overall, batting 1-for-2 and drove in one run.
Leadoff hitter Chloe Fitzgerald is still struggling in the month of February, going 0-for-2 with one walk. Her batting average drops to .229 in 48 plate appearances.
Hofstra returns home to compete at Bill Edwards Stadium to host the Hofstra Invitational. The Pride will play its first home opener against St. John’s University at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Later that day, they’ll battle UConn at 4:30 p.m. in part of a doubleheader.