Newark, Del. – Sophomore first baseman Maggie Hawkins hit a three-run double to erase a deficit in the second inning and junior Taylor Pirone threw six innings of scoreless relief to lift Hofstra to an 8-2 win over Delaware on Sunday afternoon at UD Softball Stadium.
Hofstra completed the three-game Colonial Athletic Association sweep and improved to 26-11 and 8-4 against the league. Delaware fell to 21-22 and 5-9. The Pride improved to 62-16 in the all-time series and has won 24 straight against Delaware dating to the 2006 season, including back-to-back years in the CAA Tournament from 2011-12.
Hawkins finished with three RBIs and junior catcher Erin Trippi added a two-run home run in the sixth for the insurance runs. The Pride has won 12 of the last 15 games overall. Pirone allowed just two hits in the winning effort.
The Pride loaded the bases without a hit in the first but didn't score as Carolyn Szymanski worked around two walks and an error before getting an inning-ending strikeout. Delaware responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the frame.
Giovanna Kolofer drew a two-out walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. Michelle McKinnon pulled a two-run single to the left side. The Pride nearly cut off the second run at the plate but couldn't cleanly complete the relay throw from the outfield to give Delaware a 2-0 edge. Junior pitcher Morgan Lashley struck out Danielle Wissinger to strand two runners.
Hofstra loaded the bases again in the second when the bottom of the order all reached safely to start the inning. A pair of fly outs nearly allowed Szymanski to escape trouble again, but Hawkins drove an opposite-field bases-clearing double to the right-center wall for put Hofstra ahead, 3-2.
Lashley pitched the first inning before giving way to Pirone in the bottom of the second. Hawkins' drive took Lashley off the hook as the right-hander came away with a no-decision.
Pirone came in to start the second and retired the first five batters. The only hits she allowed came on a third-inning infield single to short and a seventh-inning single to right with the New Rochelle, N.Y. native improving to 12-5. Pirone struck out one and did not walk a batter. She retired 12 batters in order with two outs in the seventh before allowing Brittney Noons' single to right.
Hofstra scored three runs in the sixth to turn a one-run game into a 6-3 edge. Szymanski retired the first batter before a fielding error and a sacrifice bunt put senior Rachael Senatore on second with outs. Hawkins delivered a single to center for her third RBI of the day and Trippi smashed her sixth home run of 2014 with a two-run shot to left-center over the high fence. Her home run total trails only Hawkins' seven for the team lead.
Sophomore Caryn Bailey drew a second-inning walk, scored and hit her second triple of the season in the third. Bailey has scored a run in three of the last four games.
Senatore's RBI ground out in the seventh and senior Ashley Ainbinder's RBI double provided the final margin. Szymanski fell to 11-11.
Hofstra will resume action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader versus Lehigh starting at 4 p.m.
