Philadelphia – Hofstra Softball split its doubleheader at Drexel on Saturday afternoon, falling in Game 1, 5-4, before routing the Dragons in five innings in Game 2, 10-0, at Drexel Softball Stadium. The Game 2 win clinched a CAA Tournament berth for the Pride, who moved to 24-21 overall and 10-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Dragons (19-29, 4-15 CAA) took Game 1 in walk-off fashion, rallying from a 4-2 Hofstra lead in the bottom of the seventh. The Pride then rebounded, scoring five runs in the first inning of Game 2 en route to the victory.

Freshman Kristin Hallam extended her hit streak to 13 games, going 5-for-7 on the day and finishing with four stolen bases and three runs. Junior Brittany Allocca homered in each game and senior Lacey Clark was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Junior Kaitlyne Musa also added a home run, her first in a Hofstra jersey.

Freshman pitcher Alyssa Irons picked up her second solo shutout of the season in Game 2. Classmate Sarah Cornell struck out seven in Game 1.

GAME 1

After the Pride had taken a 4-0 lead, the Dragons rallied late in the game. Freshman Linda Rush hit a two-run homer for the Dragons in the bottom of the sixth to bring Drexel within two. The Dragons then loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, and with two outs, Rush hit a walk-off three-run double for the win.
 
Hallam got things started early for Hofstra, leading off with a run. She slapped a triple to the left-field wall and came home on a bad throw for a 1-0 Hofstra lead. Junior Nikki Michalowski then drilled a double before classmate Sarah Edwards drew a walk. A hard-hit single through the left side from senior Lacey Clark brought Michalowski home.
 
The Dragons put runners on the corners in the bottom of the first, but a grounder to Hallam at shortstop allowed her to throw to home and catcher Kaitlyne Musa made the tag at the plate for the second out. Freshman pitcher Sarah Cornell then threw her first strikeout of the day to retire the side. Two more strikeouts from Cornell helped take the Dragons down in order in the bottom of the second.
 
Junior Brittany Allocca led off the top of the third inning with a home run to left field, her team-leading eighth homer of the season.  Clark added her seventh of the year in the top of the sixth, a high shot just over the wall in center field for the 4-0 advantage for the Pride.
 
GAME 2
 
Hallam once again scored in the top of the first in the second game, leading off with a walk and moving to second on a sac bunt from junior Brielle Pietrafesa. Allocca's single allowed Hallam to take third before she ran home on a wild pitch. A double from Edwards brought home Allocca and Michalowski, who had walked. Clark's team-leading fifth sacrifice fly drove in Edwards. Junior Megan Patierno then walked and came home on a double from Musa for a 5-0 Hofstra lead, chasing starter Ilissa Hamilton out of the circle in favor of Devon Grippe.
 
Hallam singled to lead off the top of the second, stealing second and moving to third on Pietrafesa's base hit. Hallam then stole home as Pietrafesa attempted to steal, giving the Pride a 6-0 advantage.
 
After Bailey Reed singled for the Dragons in the bottom of the second, freshman pitcher Alyssa Irons struck out the next batter before getting the next to ground into a double play to get out of the inning. Irons fanned two in the bottom of the third, retiring the side in order.
 
Musa and Allocca each hit two-run homers, Musa in the third and Allocca in the fourth, to give Hofstra the 10-0 lead. Irons pitched a clean inning in the bottom of the fifth, throwing her fourth strikeout of the game for the final out.
 
Hofstra closes the series and the regular season at noon on Sunday at Drexel Softball Stadium.