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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Kim Smith
Kim Smith
9
Winner Hofstra HOFSTRA 4-2
1
Saint Louis SLU 3-3
Winner
Hofstra HOFSTRA
4-2
9
Final
1
Saint Louis SLU
3-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hofstra HOFSTRA 0 6 1 0 0 1 1 9 15 0
Saint Louis SLU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2

W: Peslak, Jessica (3-1) L: Lore (1-2)

8
Winner Hofstra HOFSTRA 5-2
7
FGCU FGCU 1-5
Winner
Hofstra HOFSTRA
5-2
8
Final
7
FGCU FGCU
1-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hofstra HOFSTRA 0 1 0 4 0 3 0 8 8 3
FGCU FGCU 2 1 2 0 0 2 0 7 9 3

W: Grimm, Madison (2-1) L: DRANEY, Gabbee (1-1) S: Scarpato, Courtney (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | By Brian Bohl

SB: Smith’s Big Day Leads To Two Hofstra Victories

Fort Myers, Fla. – Senior third baseman Kim Smith hit a home run in each of Hofstra's two games and totaled eight RBIs to lift the Pride to a 9-1 win over Saint Louis and an 8-7 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the opening two games of the FGCU/Four Points Softball Invitational on Friday at the FGCU Softball Complex.

Smith smashed a grand slam and was 4-for-9 with four extra-base hits to extend Hofstra's winning streak to five and improve to 5-2 on the season. Sophomore first baseman Nikki Michalowski drove in two runs against Saint Louis and added another in the win over FGCU in the nightcap.

Smith totaled five RBIs and Michalowski's pair of RBIs supported junior pitcher Jessica Peslak's complete-game effort in the opening victory over Saint Louis. The Pride scored eight unanswered runs and Peslak limited the Billikens to just three hits while striking out six. The right-hander posted her second complete game this season to improve to 3-1.

Saint Louis (3-3) took the early lead when Mackenzie Peter, the team's second batter, hit a solo home run to left to give starter Brianna Lore a 1-0 lead. But Hofstra responded with a six-run rally in the second that was highlighted by Hofstra's first grand slam of the year.

Hofstra scored all six runs in the inning with two outs. Michalowski drove in junior Michaela Transue on a run-scoring single to center and an error loaded the bases with two outs. Smith then smashed her first home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch to center to clear the bases. Senior Caryn Bailey doubled down the line in right to extend the rally and sophomore Brittany Allocca drove her home with a double to cap the onslaught.

Junior Lacey Clark added an insurance run by lining a full-count RBI single to left in the sixth and Smith capped her productive game by doubling home senior Alyssa Cuzzola off reliever Laney Kneib for a 9-1 Hofstra edge in the seventh.

Hofstra tagged Lore (1-2) for 11 hits and eight runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings. The Pride out-hit Saint Louis, 15-3. Peslak threw 71 of her 115 pitches for strikes.

In the second game against host FGCU, the Eagles took a 2-0 first-inning lead on a wild pitch and Racquel Fournet's single drove in the second run. The Pride capitalized on a FGCU fielding miscue in the top of the second to cut the deficit in half. Senior outfielder Chloe Fitzgerald reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Clark to score on the play.

FGCU (1-5) scored once more against Hofstra freshman starter Madison Grimm in the second and extended the lead to 5-1 with a two-run third.

For the second time in one day, the Pride made a comeback bid. Michalowski ignited a four-run game-tying rallying by doubling in Clark off FGCU starter Ashley Dobson. Smith then pulled a three-run home run to left to tie the score.

Hofstra went ahead for good with a three-run sixth off reliever Gabbee Draney. Back-to-back singles and a ground out put two runners in scoring position. Allocca reached on second baseman Jeanie Verderese's error that allowed Fitzgerald and Michalowski to score. Verderese's second error two batters later plated Hofstra's third run of the inning, which proved to be the difference when FGCU scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to move within 8-7.

Freshman pitcher Courtney Scarpato notched her season's second save by pitching the last two innings. Scarpato gave up a leadoff single in the seventh but induced three straight ground outs to preserve Grimm's victory. The right-hander improved to 2-1.

 Hofstra will resume the five-game tournament on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. against Marshall before engaging in a rematch with Saint Louis at 2:30 p.m. Live statistics will be available for both games. The Pride caps the tournament on Sunday versus Southern Illinois at 11:15 a.m.
 
 
 
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