SB: Hofstra Continues Homestand With Five Games This Week

Hempstead, N.Y. – Five games this week will close the home portion of the schedule as Hofstra will cap a long homestand by hosting Syracuse and Fordham for midweek non-conference games followed by a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series versus Delaware.

The Pride will face the Atlantic Coast Conference-member Orange on Tuesday at 3 p.m. followed by a single game versus Fordham on Wednesday at 3 p.m. from the renamed Bill Edwards Stadium. Both games will feature free live statistics with Wednesday's game offering free live audio courtesy of Pride Productions.

Hofstra will then welcome Delaware for a Saturday doubleheader at 2 p.m. followed by the series finale Sunday at noon. The last home game will be Senior Day as Hofstra will honor Erin Trippi, Taylor Pirone and Morgan Lashley in a pregame ceremony.

Hofstra (25-11-1, 11-3 CAA) enters the week in second place in the conference after taking two-of-three from Elon. Hofstra's RPI is 25 in the latest poll released on April 20. That mark is the second-best in the conference with James Madison in the top spot at 17. Delaware is 137 while Syracuse is 128. Fordham is 71.

Lashley (14-1) has won 14 consecutive decisions. Offensively, junior Caryn Bailey .402 average has supported both veteran right-handers Lashley and Pirone. The centerfielder has a team-leading nine home runs, 83 total bases and a .680 slugging percentage.

Junior third baseman Kim Smith hit .429 during Hofstra's five-game week, going 6-for-14 with a home run, five RBIs and five runs scored. She totaled 10 bases and slugged .714 while providing a steady presence at the hot corner.

Trippi showed signs of busting out a slump, hitting a game-tying home run to the opposite field in the sixth inning against Elon Sunday afternoon. Trippi's 19th career home run moved her into sole possession of 13th place on the team's all-time list and just one away from tying Stefanie Kennedy (2002-05) for 12th.

Hofstra is 2-5 in the all-time series against Syracuse. The series dates to 2002 with the teams last meeting in a doubleheader in 2006. The last time the Orange visited Hofstra was 2005 when the teams split a twin-bill.

Syracuse is 17-25 and 1-13 in ACC play. The squad is 2-9 away from home this season. The Orange will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid. Corinne Ozanne is leading the Orange in hitting (.342), home run (11) and her 27 RBIs are second. She has scored 24 runs and totaled 78 bases. Sydney O'Hara has been another key run producer in posting a team-leading 29 RBIs. In the circle, staff ace Jocelyn Cater (12-16, 3.88 ERA) leads the Orange in wins and has the team's only save. She has gone the distance in 16 of her 26 starts.

A local rivalry will be renewed when Fordham visits the Pride. Hofstra leads the all-time series, 8-3. The teams have met every season since 2007.

Fordham (25-17, 11-5 Atlantic 10) has won three in a row following a doubleheader sweep over Saint Joseph's. Five starters are hitting better than .300, led by Rachel Gillen's .366 average. Gillen also serves as the Rams' ace, pitching to a 2.800 ERA and a 17-8 record. She has struck out 184 in 152 2/3 innings.

Delaware is 23-18 and 5-9 in CAA play and looking to stay in the mix for the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament. The Blue Hens lost in a run rule in three straight games to first-place JMU at home over the weekend and will play UMES and Coppin State in midweek games before visiting Hofstra.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Caryn Bailey: OF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#8 Morgan Lashley: P; 5' 3"; Senior; R/R

#20 Taylor Pirone: P; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#3 Kim Smith: INF; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#32 Erin Trippi: C; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#24 Caryn Bailey
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#8 Morgan Lashley
: 5' 3"; Senior; R/R
: P

#20 Taylor Pirone
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: P

#3 Kim Smith
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#32 Erin Trippi
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: C