Orlando, Fla. - Hofstra scored a run in three consecutive
innings and senior pitcher Olivia Galati threw a complete-game four-hitter as the Pride
defeated Penn State, 3-0, and then won against Maryland, 11-3, to sweep the day on Saturday at the Citrus Classic in
the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Senior Becca Bigler hit a home run and freshmen Chloe
Fitzgerald and Caryn Bailey both recorded a RBI to stake Galati to the early
lead against Penn State in the opener. The right-hander made the advantage stand up with her second shutout of
the season and also picked up the win against the Terps as Hofstra improved to 6-8.
One day after defeating No.5/No. 8 Texas, Hofstra rode the
momentum by jumping to a second-inning
lead. Sophomore Erin Trippi lined a leadoff double against Penn State starter
Macy Jones. Following a strikeout, Hirschbuhl singled to put runners on the
corners. Bailey reached on a fielding error but was credited with the RBI with
Trippi scoring on the play.
That would be all the support Galati would need. The West
Babylon, N.Y. native followed up a complete-game win over nationally ranked
Texas with eight strikeouts against just two walks. By winning the second game against Maryland, Galati moved to 6-7.
Galati earned her 95th career victory, moving her just one behind Stacy Jackson's
career program record of 96 set from 1992-95.
Hofstra scored again in the third when Bigler launched a
two-out solo home run to center. Bigler, who tied teammate Tessa Ziemba for the
Colonial Athletic Association lead for home runs in 2012 with 11, hit her first
long ball of 2013 for the 2-0 advantage.
The Pride scratched across another run against the Nittany
Lions on Fitzgerald's run-scoring single to center that scored senior Jess
Hirschbuhl for a three-run cushion.
Galati did not allow a base runner past first base after the
third inning. Hofstra already has five wins this season, which took the 2012
team until March 18 to do. That squad won the CAA title and advanced to the
NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history.
Jones also threw a complete game for Penn State, allowing
seven hits and just one earned run with five strikeouts in falling to 3-2.
Hofstra will wrap up the Citrus Classic on Sunday against the College of Charleston at 11:15 a.m.