Miami, Fla. – The Hofstra Softball team split a pair of contests on Opening Day at the FIU Felsberg Invitational, falling to South Carolina, 4-2, before blanking FIU, 5-0, to open the season 1-1. Both the Gamecocks and the Panthers were receiving votes in the preseason national polls.

Senior Brittany Allocca finished the day 4-for-7 with three RBIs, while freshman pitcher Sophie Dandola threw a shutout in her first start in the circle.

Game 1:
The Pride took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third against South Carolina, with Allocca singling to bring junior Courtney Scarpato and sophomore Kristin Hallam home.

South Carolina answered in the bottom of the inning, with a double bringing a pair of runs home. The Gamecocks pulled ahead, 4-2, in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Jana Johns and a home run from Alyssa Kumiyama.

Despite the loss, sophomore pitcher Sarah Cornell allowed just three hits, while striking out six.

Game 2:
Hofstra once again scored in the top of the third, scoring five runs, all with two outs, to take the win over FIU. After redshirt-junior Lydia Witkowski drilled a double to center field, Allocca singled to right field to bring Witkowski home. Senior Sarah Edwards and redshirt-senior Michaela Transue both walked to load the bases, and senior Brielle Pietrafesa sent a double into right-center to bring in three more runs. Senior Kaitlyne Musa capped the five-run inning with an RBI single up the middle.

The Pride held off the Panthers, with Dandola allowing just four hits and striking out four.

Hofstra is back in action on Saturday, taking on East Carolina at 9 a.m. and South Carolina at 1:30 p.m.
 
Notes:
-Redshirt-junior Lydia Witkowski singled in her first at-bat in a Hofstra uniform. She finished with three hits on the day.
-Transue and sophomore Kristin Hallam each had a hit in both games.
-Freshmen Jessie Joy, Devyn Losco and Imani Myint all made their debuts for the Pride.