Freshman Sara Michalowski (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan - pictured) threw a five-hit shutout to get her first collegiate win as Hofstra defeated Georgia Tech 4-0 in the first game of the Louisville Slugger Invitational at the University of South Florida on Friday.

Michalowski struck out four and walked none to get the win for the Pride, which improves to 4-2 on the young season. Senior shortstop Pam Dreslinski (Kingsville, OH/Edgewood) was 2-for-2 with three RBI, while sophomore left fielder Kris Root (Waynesboro, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. Georgia Tech slips to 4-7 with the loss.

Hofstra struck for a run in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead, as Root drew a one out walk and stole second. One out later, Dreslinski singled to right-center to score Root and give Hofstra the 1-0 advantage.

The Pride extended its lead to 2-0 in the third inning, as Root reached on a bunt single and stole second. After second baseman Casey Fee (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) walked, Root was thrown out at third on a double-steal for the second out, but Dreslinski came through with a double to left-center to score Fee and give the Pride an insurance run.

In the fifth inning, junior center fielder Erika Bernstein (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) reached on a bunt single and stole second, and Root followed with another bunt single and stole second. Fee then singled up the middle to score Bernstein, and Dreslinski followed with a sacrifice fly to score Root, her third straight plate appearance with an RBI.

Michalowski held on to the shutout in the seventh inning after allowing a leadoff double to All-American first baseman Whitney Haller. Michalowski then got back-to-back infield pop-ups and ended the game with her fourth strikeout.

Root's 2-for-2 performance improved her batting average on the season to .667 (10-15), with four multi-hit games in her five starts. She also reached seven stolen bases already on the 2008 campaign.

Hofstra will be back in action later today when it takes on host South Florida for its second game of the Louisville Slugger Invitational.