Fairfax, Va. - Senior first baseman Sara Michalowski (Philadelphia, Pa.) hit a pair of two-run homers and sophomore pitcher Olivia Galati (West Babylon, N.Y.) struck out 14 in six innings as the Hofstra Softball team defeated George Mason 10-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the George Mason Softball Complex.
The Pride also won the second game 11-2, highlighted by the first career homer from junior left fielder Michelle Lavagnino (Fredericksburg, Va.), who was 3-for-3 in game two, to complete the doubleheader sweep, while sophomore right fielder Tessa Ziemba (Wilmington, Del.) batted 7-for-9 in the twinbill (4-for-4 in game one, 3-for-5 in nightcap). With the wins, Hofstra improves to 25-8 on the season and 8-0 in the CAA, while extending its winning streak to 16 games. George Mason falls to 11-19 overall and 1-8 in league play with the losses.
In the opening game, Hofstra struck quickly for three runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Ziemba lined a shot to deep left field that one-hopped the wall for an RBI double. Michalowski then hit a long home run to left-center field to stretch the lead to 3-0, marking the fourth straight game in which she has homered.
The Pride added another run in the third when senior shortstop Trisha Dreslinski (Kingsville, Ohio) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Senior third baseman Krista Thorn (Smithtown, N.Y.) followed with a line drive in the left-center field gap, but George Mason center fielder Tori Dudley was able to run it down to prevent further damage.
Junior second baseman Jess Hirschbuhl (Jamison, Pa.) had a two-out RBI single in the fourth to push the lead to 5-0 and extend her hitting streak to 14 games. The Pride then loaded the bases, and a two-run double from senior catcher Laura Valentino (Smithtown, N.Y.) stretched Hofstra's lead to 7-0.
Michalowski added her second two-run homer in the sixth to make the score 9-0, scoring Ziemba, who led off with a single. Valentino then doubled and pinch-hitter Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) followed with an RBI double to center to finish off the scoring.
Meanwhile, Galati had nine strikeouts through the first three innings (around one single in the first off a change-up) before a flyout to left for the first out of the fourth. George Mason put only three other outs in play - two bunt attempts and a check-swing comebacker with two strikes. Galati struck out 14 and walked one to win her 12th straight decision and improve to 16-5 on the year, including eight shutouts.
Ziemba finished 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored for Hofstra, tying the school record for runs scored in a game, while Michalowski was 2-for-2 with two homers and two walks. Megan Blank was 2-for-3 at the plate for George Mason, accounting for both of her team's hits.
In the nightcap, Hofstra jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo homer from Lavagnino, the first career round-tripper for the left-handed slapper, who pulled the ball down the right field line just over the 210-foot fence.
Hofstra added five more runs with two outs in the second inning, as sophomore center fielder Rachael Senatore (Sparta, N.J.) lined a two-run single to right-center and came around to score on a wild pitch after a bunt single from Lavagnino. A Ziemba single loaded the bases, and an error and a walk plated two more runs.
Hofstra added two runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Valentino and an RBI single from Dreslinski to stretch the lead to 8-0. George Mason avoided the run rule with a two-run triple from Tiffany Webb in the fifth after a pair of walks to make the score 8-2. Sophomore designated player D.J. Slugh (Marlboro, N.J.) got those runs back in the seventh with a two-run double and Ziemba added an RBI single.
Junior pitcher Erin Wade (Taunton, Mass.) threw a two-hitter in the circle to improve to 9-3 on the year. She retired the first nine batters in order before a walk to lead off the fourth gave George Mason its first baserunner, and an infield single in the fourth ended the no-hit bid.
Ziemba had six straight hits in the doubleheader before popping up in the fourth, finishing 3-for-5 in the nightcap and 7-for-9 in the twinbill. Thorn was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, while Hirschbuhl was 0-for-4 with a walk to see her hitting streak snapped at 14 games.
The two teams will complete their three-game series with a single game tomorrow at 12 noon.
