Steven Wolff – STAFF WRITER The Hofstra Softball team could not hold on to its four-run lead as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights edged past the Pride in New Jersey by a final of 7-6 on Tuesday.
After two innings, Hofstra got out to a 2-0 lead, including a solo shot from first baseman Nikki Michalowski.
Rutgers, however, retaliated in the bottom half of the inning, when catcher Elizabeth Adams hit a solo home run to cut the lead in half.
That was one of three hits and four runs batted in on the day for her, as she was the main thorn in the Pride’s side.
Despite that, homeruns by Hofstra’s Michaela Transue and Megan Patierno gave the Pride a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning. The Pride had a total of three homeruns on the day.
Hofstra led 6-2 in the fifth inning but Rutgers did not go away. Scarlet Knights’ Elizabeth Adams added to her big day, as she knocked in a two-run single through the right side to cut the deficit to 6-4.
She then brought home another run in the sixth on an RBI single to cut the pride lead to a lone run.
Rutgers then tie the game on a bases loaded walk by Hofstra reliever Courtney Scarpato.
She was tagged with the loss, as she ultimately gave up the game-winning RBI single to Rutgers shortstop Melanie Slowinski.
With the loss, Scarpato falls to 1-2 on the season.
Pride starter Jessica Peslak pitched four innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three walks.
Her ERA rises to 4.79 on the season. Reliever Madison Grimm had a rough day on the mound, as she allowed four runs, three hits and six walks in just an inning and a third.
On the other side, Rutgers starter Shayla Sweeney allowed four runs on seven hits in just two and a third innings of work.
Reliever Dresden Maddox got the win improving to 6-5 on the season, holding Hofstra scoreless in the last two frames.
Michaela Transue has been on a torrid hitting stretch, as her average for the season is over .400.
In the contest she went 3-for-3, and is now 12-for-14 in her last five games. That is an .857 clip, including three homeruns, 11 RBI’s, seven runs scored and a .900 on base percentage.
Additionally, Hofstra’s Kim Smith and Brielle Pietrafesa each had two hits on the afternoon, adding to the Pride’s 11 total.
With the loss, the Pride falls to 13-11 on the season, while Rutgers improves to 15-16.
Hofstra will look to end its two-game losing streak when they travel to Maryland to face the Towson Tigers. Game time is Saturday at noon.