Hempstead, N.Y. – Junior pitcher Taylor Pirone earned both wins by tossing four innings in relief of the opener and throwing a complete-game in the second game to help Hofstra sweep UNCW, 4-3 and 10-2, in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from Hofstra Softball Stadium.
Freshman Lacey Clark drove in four runs in the second game with the Pride scoring seven runs in the sixth inning to set up the run-rule victory. Hofstra picked up its first conference wins of the season and has won four in a row overall in improving to 18-8 and 2-3 in league play. UNCW fell to 17-8 and 3-3 in the CAA.
Pirone threw 154 total pitches in the afternoon to improve to 7-3 with her ERA at 1.43. The right-hander struck out seven against three walks in the combined efforts.
Pirone was called on to protect a one-run lead in the fourth inning of the opener. Hofstra staked junior starter Morgan Lashley to a 3-1 lead in the second on senior Rachael Senatore's two-run double to left off UNCW starter Casey Rowland. Merritt Wilkinson cut Hofstra's lead to 3-2 via a solo home run in the third.
Nella Chamblee hit a leadoff double to left-center to start and the fourth and Hofstra Head Coach Bill Edwards brought in the groundball-throwing Pirone with the wind blowing out. Following a sacrifice bunt, Pirone stranded UNCW pinch runner Darian Roberts at third by getting a strike out and a ground out.
Jessica Rappe opened the scoring in the first with a solo home run though Hofstra responded in the bottom of the inning when sophomore Chloe Fitzgerald walked and scored on a stolen base and an error.
Senatore's extra-base hit put Hofstra up for good and Fitzgerald scored her second run of the contest on a wild pitch that marked the fourth run allowed (and third earned run) by Rowland, who dropped to 9-7. UNCW threatened to make a late comeback bid on a two-out seventh inning rally.
Erin Brown singled with one out and advanced to second on a ground out. Pinch-hitter Kristen Jernigan kept the game alive by drawing a walk and Brittany Gamby hit a RBI single to left side to put the potential tying run at second. Another walk loaded the bases before Pirone struck out Rappe to end the contest and secure the win.
Hofstra again had to post a come-from-behind win when UNCW scored in the first on catcher Casey Shue's RBI infield single. Shue picked up her second RBI on a third-inning run-scoring single to right that plated Gamby for the second time in the contest.
Hofstra finally responded against UNCW starter Peyton Jordan with a three-run fourth. Clark, who did not start the first game, shined as the designated player by delivering a two-run single to left that scored senior Becca Bigler and sophomore Caryn Bailey. Sophomore Kim Smith then drove in Clark on a RBI single-up-the-middle.
Pirone did not allow another run in her final three innings and Hofstra turned a 3-2 lead into a run-rule-shortened victory by scoring seven times in the bottom of the sixth. Hawkins lined a two-run single off and senior Tori Rocha's single drove in Hawkins to chase Jordan (7-11). Clark's two-run single off reliever Kayla Pine ended the game.
Hofstra improved to 29-3 in the all-time series versus UNCW and has won the last 13 games in the series. The Pride is 6-0 at home this season. The teams will conclude the three-game set on Sunday with a noon start.
