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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Kim Smith
Kim Smith
7
Hofstra HOFSTRA 21-18
8
Winner Stony Brook SBU 21-17-2
Hofstra HOFSTRA
21-18
7
Final
8
Stony Brook SBU
21-17-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hofstra HOFSTRA 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 7 9 0
Stony Brook SBU 2 0 0 0 4 2 X 8 10 0

W: Neales, Maddy (7-5) L: Peslak, Jessica (15-8) S: Sallen, Jane (3)

Game Recap: Softball | | By Brian Bohl

SB: Hofstra Falls On Late Stony Brook Rally

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Senior third baseman Kim Smith smashed a grand slam but Stony Brook scored six unanswered runs, including two in the sixth, as Hofstra fell to the Seawolves, 8-7, in a Tuesday non-league matchup from University Field.

Hofstra sophomore catcher Brittany Allocca also hit a home run and scored twice. But Melissa Phelan drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the sixth, to help Stony Brook improve to 21-17-2. Hofstra lost for the third time in four games to fall to 21-18.

Smith's second grand slam of the season ignited a six-run rally in the fifth inning in which seven batters reached successfully to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead. Stony Brook responded by scoring four runs in the fifth and twice in the sixth to extend its unbeaten streak to 11 games.

Diane Caruso pulled a two-run home run to right-center to put Stony Brook ahead, 2-0, in the opening inning. Hofstra junior starter Jessica Peslak (15-8), who threw a complete game, settled down to blank the Seawolves for the next three innings. That allowed Hofstra to come back, starting in the fourth when Allocca hit her career-high eighth home run off Stony Brook starter Jane Sallen.

Sallen entered the afternoon having thrown back-to-back no-hitters. But Allocca's long ball cut Hofstra's deficit in half and the Pride forced Sallen to leave the game temporarily in the fifth. A hit batter started the inning and a single put runners on the corners following a sacrifice bunt. Junior shortstop Michaela Transue's RBI single to center tied the score and brought in reliever Maddy Neales, who intentionally walked Allocca to load the bases for Smith.

Smith then pulled her second grand slam of the season for her eighth home run in the campaign. Her shot to the berm beyond the red fence marked Hofstra's fifth grand slam this season and Smith's first since Feb. 19 against Saint Louis. Junior second baseman Lacey Clark added a RBI single to cap the six-run rally.

Allocca and Smith are tied for the team-lead in home runs.

Neales did not allow another run after that in her 1 2/3 innings of work and the right-hander earned the win to improve to 7-5 thanks to her offense's tenacious response in the bottom of the fifth.

Kellie Reynolds capitalized on a leadoff walk and a double by hitting a RBI single. A walk loaded the bases and Phelan's two-run base hit extended the rally. Lexie Shue's sacrifice fly brought Stony Brook within one run before Peslak induced a fly out to send Hofstra into the sixth ahead, 7-6.

Neales threw a 1-2-3 sixth, needing just five pitches. Stony Brook took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Patty Borges hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Peslak forced a ground out to third before Reynolds came through with her second RBI single in as many innings to tie the score. Caruso singled and Phelan singled to center to plate Reynolds with the go-ahead run.

Sallen re-entered in the seventh and got three straight outs after allowing a leadoff walk to notch her third save. The left-hander struck out two against three walks.

Hofstra will resume Colonial Athletic Association play by hosting Drexel in a three-game weekend set. The Pride will face the Dragons in a Saturday doubleheader at Bill Edwards Stadium starting at 2 p.m.
 
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