Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Nikki Michalowski
Nikki Michalowski
6
Hofstra HOFSTRA 13-11
7
Winner Rutgers RU 15-16
Hofstra HOFSTRA
13-11
6
Final
7
Rutgers RU
15-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hofstra HOFSTRA 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 6 11 0
Rutgers RU 0 1 0 1 2 2 1 7 8 0

W: Maddox, Dresden (6-5) L: Scarpato, Courtney (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | By Brian Bohl

SB: Hofstra Falls On Late Rutgers Rally

Piscataway, N.J. – Rutgers rallied for two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth and broke a deadlock on Melanie Slowinski's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh as Hofstra fell to the Scarlet Knights, 7-6, in a Tuesday non-conference matchup from RU Softball Complex.

Junior shortstop Michaela Transue continued her torrid hitting by smashing a two-run home run as one of three Hofstra players to go deep overall. But the Pride fell to 13-11 in the final non-league game before Colonial Athletic Association play begins this weekend. Rutgers' Elizabeth Adams registered four RBI as the Big 10-member Scarlet Knights improved to 15-16.

Sophomore Nikki Michalowski also hit a solo shot and fellow sophomore Megan Patierno contributed a two-run home run. Sophomore Brielle Pietrafesa and senior Kim Smith registered two hits.

The Pride employed a new-look lineup that paid dividends in the first. Smith's one-out single through the left-side set up Pietrafesa's two-out RBI double to right.

Michalowski pulled a leadoff home run to left-center in second off Rutgers starter Shayla Sweeney for the 2-0 edge. Adams' solo home run in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit in half. But Hofstra responded by striking for two runs in the third. Smith doubled and Transue's two-run home run to right-center chased Sweeney after 2 1/3 innings.

Transue went 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. The Chenango Forks, New York native is 12-for-14 in her last five games. She is hitting .857 in that span with three home runs, 11 RBIs, seven runs scored and a 1.714 slugging percentage while posting a .900 on-base percentage.

Patierno's leadoff home run off reliever Dresden Maddox made it a 5-1 Hofstra led. Patierno's shot to left marked her season's first home run.

Rutgers struck for two runs in the fifth to make a comeback bid. Junior starter pitcher Jessica Peslak gave way to freshman Madison Grimm to start the inning and a leadoff walk and single started the inning. A wild pitch moved two runners in scoring position and, following a fly out, Adams hit a two-run single through the right side. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases before Grimm got a strike out and induced a ground out to strand three and keep the lead at 6-4.

Rutgers came all the way back in the bottom of the sixth when Adams hit a bases-loaded RBI single to plate Nicolette Anico. Carly Todd walked in the team's next plate appearance to force in the tying run.

Freshman Courtney Scarpato entered with the bases still loaded and one out and got out of the jam on a double-play lineout to keep the score knotted at 6.

But Rutgers ended the game in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a two-out rally. Anico singled to center off Scarpato (1-2) and a walk put two runners on. The runners moved up on defensive indifference before Slowinski's run-scoring single ended the game.

Peslak allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one in four innings in taking the no-decision.

Hofstra will open Colonial Athletic Association play with a three-game weekend set at Towson. The Pride will play the Tigers in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. followed by Sunday's finale at 1 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version