Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra scored eight first-inning runs and
junior Olivia Galati threw a complete-game one-hitter as the Pride defeated
Princeton, 9-0, in a five-inning non-conference matchup on Tuesday evening.
Seniors Michelle Lavagnino and Krista Thorn finished with
two RBIs and junior Becca Bigler also drove in two runs to help Hofstra improve
to 29-13 overall. The Pride won for the 27th time in the last 29 games.
Princeton's Nicole Ontiveros' bunt single in the fifth was the only base hit
for the visitors as the Tigers fell to 14-28.
Galati struck out 11 without allowing a walk in winning her
20th consecutive start. The West Babylon, N.Y. native improved to 22-5 and now
needs one more win to tie Callie Osborne's school record of 21 straight
victories set in 2005. Galati struck out 10-plus batters for the 10th time this
season and lowered her Colonial Athletic Association-leading ERA to 1.09. She
has 245 strikeouts against just 17 walks in 179 2/3 innings.
Against the Tigers, Galati registered her 12th shutout and
25th complete game. Opponents are hitting .170 against her.
Hofstra ensured there was a plethora of run support,
pounding out nine hits in the opening inning. Princeton starter Alex Peyton did
not record an out, giving up base hits to the first five Hofstra batters.
Junior Rachael Senatore's leadoff triple down the right field line ignited the
rally. Bigler followed with a RBI single up the middle and Galati reached on an
infield single.
Junior Tessa Ziemba picked up her team-leading 38th RBI with
a run-scoring single up the middle and freshman Erin Trippi's run-scoring
single through the left side chased Peyton (6-12) without the righty recording
a single out.
Liza Kuhn entered in relief and hit the first batter she
faced. Thorn then delivered a two-run double to left and, following a
strikeout, Lavagnino ripped a two-RBI single up the middle. Senatore and Thorn
both connected for their second hits of the inning with Bigler driving in the
final run to stake Hofstra to an 8-0 lead.
Lavagnino entered with five RBIs on the season but went
1-for-2 with a run scored in tallying her first multi-RBI game of the season.
Eight members of Hofstra's starting lineup reached base safely in the first
with three batters reaching twice.
Hofstra will resume conference play when it takes its 13-0
CAA record to Maryland for a three-game series at Towson starting with a
Saturday doubleheader at noon.
