Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra Softball hosted its inaugural First Pitch Dinner on Saturday evening in the Hofstra University Club. The Pride commemorated the careers three Hofstra Softball alumnae by retiring their jerseys while celebrating the beginning of the 2017 season.
Former UCLA Softball Head Coach and 11-time NCAA Championship winner Sue Enquist delivered the keynote address, celebrating Hofstra's prominent place in the softball world.
After Enquist's speech, Ashley Lane '07, Kayleigh Lotti '09 and Olivia Galati '13 were honored with the retiring of their jerseys.
Ashley Lane '07, who wore No. 19, was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2004 and Player of the Year in 2006, in addition to earning all-region honors in all four of her seasons. She holds the program record for career home runs (40) and RBIs (180) and single-season RBIs (63) and ranks second in career doubles (54).
Kayleigh Lotti '09, who wore No. 1, was a three-time CAA Pitcher of the Year (2007-09) and four-time all-region selection. Lotti made 122 career starts, good for second all-time in program history, and posted 82 career wins, ranking third all-time. Her 979 career strikeouts, including a then-record 319 during the 2007 season, topped the Hofstra all-time charts at the time of her graduation (now second all-time). She also posted four career no-hitters, which ranks fourth in Pride history.
Olivia Galati '13, who wore No. 2, became the first-ever first-team All-American in program history in 2012. She led the Pride to their first trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. A four-time all-region selection and CAA Pitcher of the Year, she posted a program-record 129 career wins, 1,410 strikeouts, 12 no-hitters and five perfect games. In addition, she holds the single-season records for strikeouts (295), wins (40) and ERA (0.95).
Hofstra Softball also thanked its donors, and current senior
Michaela Transue spoke on behalf of the 2017 team.
The Pride opens its season on February 17 with a matchup against Oklahoma State in Cleawater, Florida, at the Michele Smith National Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational.
