Orlando, Fla. – The Hofstra Softball team picked up a pair of eighth-inning wins, topping Texas Tech, 3-2, and Florida A&M, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at UCF Softball Complex.
 
Senior Brielle Pietrafesa came up big in both games, recording both game-winning hits and finishing the day with three RBIs.
 
Hofstra (7-2) has now extended its win streak to five games and has recorded five shutouts in nine games.
 
Game 1:
 
The Red Raiders (2-4) got on the board first in the first game, capitalizing on an RBI double in the bottom of the first.
 
The Pride knotted the score in the top of the fourth. Senior Sarah Edwards reached on an error to lead off. Classmate Brielle Pietrafesa then used a sacrifice bunt before Kaitlyne Musa's single brought in the tying run. Hofstra loaded the bases with two outs, forcing out starting pitcher Kassidy Scott. Erin Edmoundson then took over and got the third out.
 
The teams stayed even at one through seven, forcing extra innings. Per the tiebreak rule, sophomore Kristin Hallam was placed on second base. Texas Tech intentionally walked senior Brittany Allocca with one out to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Pietrafesa hit a double to left center to bring in two runs for a 3-1 Hofstra lead.
 
With the runner on second, sophomore pitcher Sarah Cornell (5-1) struck out the first batter, before a single brought the runner home to cut the deficit to one. With two outs, Cornell intentionally walked Jessica Hartwell, before throwing another strikeout for the final out and the win. Cornell struck out eight in the win, while allowing just three hits.
 
Game 2:
 
The Pride had opportunities to score against Florida A&M (2-5) on a number of occasions, including loading the bases in the top of the fourth on a Michalowski double and senior Megan Patierno and Musa reaching on back-to-back errors. Patierno also singled in the top of the sixth to put runners on first and third. But the Rattlers were able to keep Hofstra off the board.
 
For the second time in as many games, the contest needed extra innings. With senior Brittany Allocca placed on second, Pietrafesa tripled to bring in the run. With a chance to answer in the bottom of the eighth for Florida A&M, senior Michaela Transue turned an unassisted double play to help seal the win for the Pride.
 
Freshman pitcher Sophie Dandola turned in the second shutout of her career, striking out five and allowing just three hits.
The Pride is back in action on Sunday, taking on Texas Tech once again at 12:30 p.m.
 
Notes:
-Senior Nikki Michalowski had three hits on the day.
-Musa also had a pair of hits.
-Hofstra has already had three games need extra innings this season. The Pride is 3-0 in those games.