Hempstead, N.Y. - Senior Tessa Ziemba went 6-for-8 with five
runs scored and five RBIs to lead a Hofstra offense that posted 17 hits in each
game as the Pride defeated Connecticut, 18-0, before besting Central
Connecticut State, 12-6, to capture the Hofstra Invitational on Sunday afternoon
in non-conference matchups.
Freshman Chloe Fitzgerald registered multi-hit games in both
contests, senior Becca Bigler drove in five runs total with a home run in both
ends while senior Olivia Galati picked up both wins to move
Hofstra to 11-8. The Pride went 4-0 in the Hofstra Invitational to win the
three-team tournament (out-scoring opponents 45-11) and has now won eight in a
row.
Galati threw a complete-game five-hitter in a five-inning
victory over UConn in the opener and allowed just two runs in five innings against CCSU to
record her 100th career victory. Galati broke Stacy Jackson's all-time
program wins record of 96 yesterday in the tournament. The West Babylon, N.Y.
native struck out 17 total batters on Sunday (eight against UConn; 7 versus
CCSU) without walking a batter. Galati improved to 11-7.
Freshman Caryn Bailey had four hits and drove in five runs
on the day while Maggie Hawkins went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs
against the Huskies.
Hofstra surged to a 6-0 lead in the first game against UConn
starter Alyson Ambler (2-3). Ambler retired the first two batters before the
Pride rallied with Ziemba singling. After a walk, UConn almost escaped the
inning but Hofstra loaded the bases on a fielder's choice to sustain the
inning.
Senior Jess Hirschbuhl capitalized with a two-run double to
left and Bailey followed with another two-run double to center. Hawkins'
two-run home run to center punctuated the inning.
Ziemba helped Hofstra score three more runs in the second
with a RBI double to chase Ambler. Bigler crushed her third home run of the
season for a two-run shot against reliever Lauren Duggan.
In the third, Hofstra scored eight more runs after sending
13 batters to the plate. Junior Tori Rocha followed a leadoff walk and
single with a RBI single up the middle. A walk loaded the bases and a run
scored on a UConn error. After a force out at home, Hirschbuhl reached on a
fielders' choice Hawkins later added a two-run double and Fitzgerald's infield
single brought in another run before Rocha picked up her second RBI single of
the inning.
Galati did not allow a runner past second past to record her
fourth shutout of the season.
In the second game, Hofstra smashed five home runs,
including back-to-back pinch hit long balls from sophomore Lindsey Reid and freshman
Kim Smith. Both homers marked the first of their respective careers with
Ziemba, Bigler and Bailey also going deep.
As the designated road team, the Pride scored three runs in
the top of the first off CCSU starter Laura Messina (4-5) via Bigler's
three-run blast to left on a cold, wind-swept day at Hofstra Softball Stadium.
CCSU tried to get back in the game when Arielle Bruno hit a
leadoff homer to left in the bottom of the inning. But Hofstra bounced right
back with two more runs in the second on Ziemba's two-run home run to center.
Ziemba tied for the CAA with 11 home runs in 2012 but already has nine in the
current campaign to lead her squad.
Both teams exchanged runs in the third to keep Hofstra
ahead, 6-2. The Pride broke the game open in the fifth off CCSU reliever Jordan
Tingley. Ziemba hit a clutch two-out double to plate two runs and put runners
on the corners with Fitzgerald moving to third. The Pride then executed a
double-steal with Fitzgerald swiping home on the throw down to second to
account for the six-run lead.
Hofstra tacked on three more runs in the seventh when Reid
(a two-run smash) and Smith both hit home runs for the first time in their
careers and did so in back-to-back at-bats.
Rocha went 4-for-8 with three runs scored and sophomore Erin
Trippi tallied three total hits. Senior D.J. Slugh scored a run in both games.
Hofstra will next be in action on Saturday when the Pride
opens Colonial Athletic Association play with a road doubleheader at UNC
Wilmington starting at noon.