Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra Softball opened its home schedule and Colonial Athletic Association slate with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Bill Edwards Stadium, dropping a pair to No. 10 James Madison, 10-4 and 10-1. The Pride fell to 9-11 and 0-2 in conference play.

Freshman Kristin Hallam and junior Megan Patierno each went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the first game, while junior Nikki Michalowski was 2-for-4 on the day with a run.

GAME 1

The Dukes (26-3) used a big second inning to snag the win in the first game, bringing in seven runs on seven hits, including Odicci Alexander's two-run home run, her first of two long balls on the day.

The Pride pulled back a run in the bottom of the fourth, with three straight singles from  Hallam and juniors Patierno and Brittany Allocca. Senior Lacey Clark's sacrifice fly to right field drove in Hallam to spoil the shutout.

After JMU had pushed the lead to 8-1 with Alexander's second homer of the day in the top of the fifth, Hofstra's offense continued to excel in the bottom of the inning, bringing in three more runs. Sophomore Courtney Scarpato sparked a string of three doubles in four at-bats, with Hallam and Patierno each recording an extra-base hit and an RBI. Allocca's single drove in the third run to cut the Dukes' lead to 8-4.

A double from Michalowski in the bottom of the sixth forced the Dukes to put ace Megan Good back in the game, and Good quickly retired the side.

Back-to-back homers in the top of the seventh gave James Madison the 10-4 lead. Senior pitcher Jessica Peslak stepped in for freshman Alyssa Irons to get the final two outs of the game. Irons walked just two in the loss. Good picked up the win for James Madison, allowing no hits or runs and striking out three in 3.0 innings pitched. Alexander allowed seven of the Pride's hits and all four runs in 2.2 innings pitched.

GAME 2

The Pride took an early lead in the second game, spoiling Good's hope of adding to her NCAA-leading 11 shutouts. Junior Sarah Edwards stepped in to pinch-hit and forced an error at second base, which allowed Michalowski to score. Michalowski had singled to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Kaitlyne Musa.

The Dukes were quick to answer, however, taking a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on Kierstin Roadcap's second home run of the day, a two-run shot. James Madison then used back-to-back five-hit, four-run innings to force the game to end in five.

Freshman pitcher Sarah Cornell walked just two in the loss, while Good, who also leads the nation in ERA, allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four to improve to 18-0 on the season.  

The two sides will meet again at noon on Sunday at Bill Edwards Stadium to close the three-game series.