Hempstead, N.Y. – Despite outhitting Rutgers, Hofstra Softball dropped a non-conference contest to the Scarlet Knights, 11-5, on Wednesday evening at Bill Edwards Stadium.
The Pride (10-13, 1-2 Colonial Athletic Association) put up 10 hits to Rutgers nine, but couldn't complete a late rally. Junior
Brielle Pietrafesa hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth for her second straight game with a home run, taking over the team lead with three on the season. Classmate
Kaitlyne Musa went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of RBIs, while
Nikki Michalowski was 2-for-3 with a double.
Rutgers (9-21, 1-2 Big Ten) scored three runs, with the first four batters reaching safely. The Scarlet Knights added two more runs in the second on a two-run single from Rebecca Hall to take a 5-0 lead.
Hofstra pulled a run back in the bottom of the third. Freshman
Kristin Hallam singled up the middle with one out before junior
Megan Patierno walked and classmate
Brittany Allocca reached on a fielder's choice with no out on the play. Rutgers pitcher Shayla Sweeney then walked senior
Lacey Clark with the bases loaded to drive in the run.
The Scarlet Knights pushed the lead to 10-1 in the fifth inning, capitalizing on some defensive miscues from the Pride to tack on five more runs.
Pietrafesa's home run sparked a four-run bottom of the fifth for the Pride, with Patierno, Allocca, Clark, Michalowski and Musa all reaching base safely, with Musa's single bringing home Michalowski and Clark to cut the deficit to 10-5.
The Pride loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to capitalize and complete the rally.
An error-laden game, the Scarlet Knights finished with four errors to Hofstra's three. All three of the Pride's pitchers saw work, with freshman
Sarah Cornell getting the start and taking the loss, classmate
Alyssa Irons tossing three innings and senior
Jessica Peslak coming in to close in the seventh, getting all three outs on strikeouts.
???????Hofstra concludes its homestand with a three-game conference series with Towson beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday.