Harrisonburg, Va. – The No. 2 seed Hofstra Softball team took down No. 3 seed Towson, 9-4, in the Opening Round of the CAA Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Pride improved to 38-12 on the season, while the Tigers dropped to 40-16. Hofstra advances to take on top-seed James Madison at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday (originally scheduled for 12 p.m.).
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, with Kendyll Scott leading off with a double and making her way home on a pair of wild pitches.
The Pride stormed back with five runs in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases on an error and two walks. Junior
Courtney Scarpato then walked in a run, before senior
Nikki Michalowski's infield single drove in another. With the bases still loaded, senior
Megan Patierno was hit by a pitch and
Kaitlyne Musa walked two bring in two more. Sophomore
Kristin Hallam's RBI single into center field capped the five-run outburst.
After the Tigers scored on a Nicole Stockinger home run, Hofstra loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth on a leadoff walk to readshirt-senior
Michaela Transue and singles from Hallam and senior
Brittany Allocca. The Pride then capitalized on a Towson error to bring in two runs for a 7-2 lead.
Hofstra used five walks in the bottom of the sixth to bring in two more runs, before the Tigers tacked on another pair in the top of the seventh for the final 9-4 tally.
Sophomore
Sarah Cornell picked up the win in the circle, allowing six hits and one walk, and striking out three.
The Pride advances to play top-seeded James Madison at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Notes:
-Seven different Hofstra players recorded an RBI.
-Hofstra's 38 wins on the season are tied for seventh-most in program history.
-Cornell's 23 victories in the circle this season are tied for ninth on the program charts.