CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Hofstra softball team opened up its 2019 campaign against No. 18/21 Kentucky (3-4) on Friday morning at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, falling to the Wildcats by a score of 8-0 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
 
Senior Courtney Scarpato, freshman Madison McKevitt and freshman Lyndsey Shaw all had hits for the Pride, while McKevitt and freshman Angelina Ioppolo each drew one walk. Freshman Mackenzie Suto got the start inside the circle and pitched 2.1 innings with one strikeout, and freshman Madison Burns made an appearance in relief, tossing 2.1 innings while fanning two batters.
 
Scarpato got things started for the Pride with a base hit through the right side in the top of the first inning. Kentucky wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame with three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run by Alex Martens.
 
Hofstra had its best offensive chance in the top of the second, when McKevitt led off the frame with a four-pitch walk. Shaw singled up the middle to put runners on first and second, before Ioppolo drew another four-pitch walk to load the bases with one out. Kentucky got out of the inning, inducing two-straight ground balls to work out of the jam.
 
Kentucky's Sarah Rainwater drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the second, but sophomore catcher Devyn Losco threw her out at second base for her first caught stealing of her career. After Kentucky put runners on with an error and a single, Suto pitched two-straight outs including her first career strikeout on a 3-2 count against Jenny Schaper to leave two Wildcats stranded on the base paths.
 
After the Pride went down in order in the top of the third, Kentucky added four runs on two hits to pull away from Hofstra. McKevitt answered in the top of the fourth with a lead-off double to center field, but that was all the offense Hofstra got the rest of the day as Kentucky ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
 
The Pride will return to action tomorrow morning (Saturday, February 16) for two more top-25 matchups at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational. Hofstra will meet No. 3/3 Oklahoma at 10 am (Field 9) and No. 20/17 Oklahoma State at 4 pm (Field 3) at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. Live stats will be available for both games, and the Oklahoma game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

NOTES:
-Kentucky and Hofstra met for the first time in program history
-Madison McKevitt and Lyndsey Shaw each tallied their first career hit
-Mackenzie Suto and Madison Burns made their first collegiate appearances inside the circle