South Orange, N.J. -- Hofstra's offense belted out 19 total hits on the day and senior Olivia Galati threw a shutout and Maggie Hawkins earned her first career win to lift the Pride to a twi-night doubleheader sweep over Seton Hall, 8-0 and 9-1, on Tuesday evening at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.
Jess Hirschbuhl, Kim Smith and Caryn Bailey all hit home runs in Game 1, providing enough support for Galati's complete-game five-hit shutout. Sophomore Erin Trippi went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored in the nightcap and Hofstra put up seven runs in the fourth to help Hawkins get the victory in her first career start.
The Pride extended their winning streak to 11 in improving to 29-10 overall. Earlier in the day, Hofstra received a vote in the NFCA top-25 poll. That marked the first time Hofstra was in the poll since Feb. 24. Seton Hall fell to 14-23.
Galati (25-9) struck out nine and did not walk a batter in the opening game. Only one Seton Hall batter reached second base with Maria DeLuca hitting a leadoff single and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Galati struck out Meredith Henze to end the game and pick up her 31st complete game and 11th shutout. The West Babylon, N.Y. native threw 77 of her 94 pitches for strikes.
Hofstra threatened in the first when Chloe Fitzgerald and Tori Rocha reached on back-to-back singles before Danielle DeStaso escaped trouble with a fielder's choice and a double play.
DeStaso and Galati exchanged zeros through the first three innings before Hirschbuhl hit a 2-2 pitcher over the right-center wall for a leadoff home run in the fourth. Hirschbuhl's sixth home run ignited a five-run rally. Becca Bigler was hit by a pitch and Hawkins rocketed a single up the middle. Carny Bailey hit a ground ball to second that DeLuca threw into right field for an error that scored Bigler from second.
Smith, who made just her second career start, hit her third home run of the season and first in a non pinch-hitting role when she pulled a pitch to the left over the Seton Hall logo on the fence for a three-run shot. The blast chased DeStaso, who fell to 12-11.
Hirschbuhl and Bigler hit consecutive RBI singles off Pirates reliever Casey Moses for a 7-0 edge in the sixth. Bailey, who earned CAA Co-Rookie of the Week honors on Monday, hit a solo home run to right to start the seventh. Bailey now has eight home runs on the season.
n Game 2, Hawkins made her first career start in the circle. As Hofstra's primary first baseman and second-leading hitter, Hawkins had previously made just one relief appearance as a pitcher coming to the day, throwing a 1-2-3 inning against Marist on April 4.
Hofstra staked Hawkins to a 2-0 first-inning lead on Trippi's two-run triple down the rightfield line that plated Fitzgerald and sophomore second baseman Lindsey Reid, who took advantage of her first start of the season by singling through the left side.
Galati squared around and put down a good sacrifice bunt before Trippi went opposite-field for her second career triple and first of 2013.
Senior D.J. Slugh, who has played predominantly as the leftfielder in the flex position this season, batted ninth in Game 2 and delivered a two-run single to the base of the wall in left to score Hirschbuhl and Bigler in the fourth. Slugh registered her first RBI since April 4.
Hofstra sent 13 batters to the plate in the seven-run fourth, generating five hits. After falling behind to Trippi 2-0, Seton Hall pulled starter Jen Metzger (2-8) for Moses. Trippi greeted the reliever with a two-run single (the runs were charged to Metzger). The Pride scored two more runs on a throwing error, setting up the run rule.
Hawkins (1-0) struck out two and allowed just four hits. Seton Hall got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Yasmin Harrell hit a sacrifice fly.After walking Brittany Hammer to put runners on first and second with one out, Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards turned to Galati to preserve the lead with the run-rule in effect.
Galati struck out Alex Rabbetts and got DeLuca to hit into a force play to end the game after five innings.
The Pride will next be in action on Saturday with a CAA doubleheader at George Mason beginning at noon in Fairfax, Va. The finale of the series is set for Sunday at noon.