Hempstead, N.Y. - Junior outfielder Rachael Senatore notched
three RBIs, scored four combined runs and collected five hits while fellow
junior Olivia Galati tossed a complete-game victory in the opener and
registered two home runs total-including one in each game- and four RBIs in the
second contest to help Hofstra record a doubleheader sweep over Drexel, 8-1 and
12-5, in Colonial Athletic Association
matchups on Sunday afternoon.
Hofstra scored a combined 20 runs as six players picked up
RBIs for the first-place Pride, extending the team's winning streak to eight
games in improving to 5-0 in conference play and 12-12 overall. Drexel fell to 13-15 and 1-4.
Galati extended her personal winning streak to seven in the
Game 1 victory, limiting Drexel to two hits and one run in seven innings while
striking out 11 against zero walks. Galati, who entered with the league's
lowest ERA, dropped the figure down 1.69 when she added two innings of relief
work in the Game 2 victory in which she did not surrender an earned run. She is
now 9-3.
At the plate, Galati also was a difference-maker. The West Babylon,
N.Y. native launched a three-run home run fifth after collecting a
fourth-inning RBI while scoring twice in a 2-for-3 showing. In both games, the
pitcher/designated player was 3-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
Hofstra extended its winning streak against Drexel to 19
games, improving to 52-10 against the Dragons in the all-time series. The
afternoon also featured career milestones for a pair of Hofstra players.
Freshman Lindsey Reid registered his first collegiate base hit with a single
through the right side in the sixth inning of Game 2. Junior Nicole Osovski
also registered her first hits of the season with two singles in the contest,
marking her first base hit since 2010 when she went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a
run scored.
Senior pitcher Erin Wade picked up the win in the second
game, holding Drexel to four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings.
Wade won her second straight start in improving to 3-7.
In the opener, Hofstra erased a 1-0 first-inning deficit
with a two-run rally in the second. A walk and a single put two runners on and,
following a sacrifice bunt, sophomore Tori Rocha singled through the left side
for the first run. Junior D.J. Slugh lofted a sacrifice fly to plate the second
run.
Hofstra scored again in the third on Galati's solo home run.
The Pride tacked on three more insurance runs as part of a fourth-inning rally
against Drexel starter Hillary Allen (7-7), highlighted by junior shortstop
Becca Bigler's two-run single up the middle.
Rocha walked with the bases loaded in the fifth and Senatore's
RBI groundout led to two more runs to give Galati an 8-1 lead. The right-hander
made the lead stand up, striking out double digits for the third time this
season.
In the second game, Drexel raced to fast start with another
first-inning run thanks to Jen Reading's RBI single. But Senatore responded by
drilling a leadoff triple and scoring on Drexel starter Shelby Taylor's wild
pitch that was too far high and outside for catcher Paige Collings to handle.
Senatore broke the 1-all deadlock in the third with a
run-scoring double to center and scored on junior Tessa Ziemba's RBI groundout
for a 3-1 edge.
A four-run fourth broke the game open. Senatore, Galati and
Ziemba all had run-scoring singles and Hofstra capitalized on a Drexel error to
extend the lead to 7-1. The Dragons made it interesting in the top of the
fifth, taking advantage of two Hofstra errors to score three runs and cut the deficit
to 7-4. Drexel's Devon Metcalf, who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two
RBIs, singled in a run and scored as part of the rally.
But Wade pitched around the errors and shrugged off Drexel's
three hits, inducing a ground out to end her outing and keep the potential tying
run in the on-deck circle.
Hofstra re-established its comfortable lead with a four run
fifth that included Galati's second home run of the day. Playing at the designated
player spot, Galati slammed her third long ball of the season (all three home
runs have come in CAA play with her shot being a three-blast last weekend at
Georgia State). Before Galati went deep, Bigler tallied a RBI single as Hofstra
scored 12 runs-all earned-off Taylor (6-7).
Galati pitched the final two innings, striking out two, to
end the game in a non-save situation.
Senior catcher Courtney Crews showed grit by playing every
inning of the doubleheader and getting hit by a pitch three times. She scored
two runs in the opener.
Hofstra will next be in action on Tuesday when it plays
Rutgers on the road in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
