MOBILE, Ala. – The Hofstra University Softball team picked up its first win of the season over Nicholls State on Saturday morning, defeating the Colonels by a score of 8-2 at Jaguar Field. With the win, Hofstra improves to 1-5 on the season while Nicholls State drops to 8-5.
 
Freshman Mackenzie Suto picked up her first collegiate win inside the circle, as she tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts while only allowing three hits. Offensively, the Pride racked up 10 total hits, led by freshmen Kasey Collins and Megan Giordano who each tallied a pair for Hofstra. Giordano went 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI and one walk, while Collins was 2-for-4 on the day. In addition, senior Courtney Scarpato tallied two RBI while senior Lydia Witkowski and freshman Madison McKevitt each drove in one run.
 
After Collins reached first base on a dropped third strike, Kristin Hallam got the bats fired up in the top of the first, as she singled to left field and reached second base on a fielding error which put runners on second and third. Giordano put the Pride on the board with a single up the middle as Hofstra gained an early lead over the Colonels, 2-0.
 
The offensive outburst continued in to the top of the second inning, as the Pride tallied four runs on four hits to gain a 6-0 advantage. Junior Alexis Goeke led off with a base hit through the left side and was replaced by freshman Amanda Maffucci on the base paths. Maffucci went on to score as Witkowski singled to right field, before the Pride loaded the bases with a Collins single and Hallam walk. Giordano drew a walk to increase the score to 4-0, and Scarpato followed up with a base hit up the middle which scored Hallam and Collins.
 
In the bottom of the second, Nicholls State got all the offense it was able to produce for the remainder of the game, as Veronica Villafranco double to right center to cut the Hofstra lead to four. After each team went down in order in the third inning, Hofstra responded with an RBI double by Giordano to expand the lead back to five in the top of the fourth.
 
It was mostly a defensive battle the rest of the way, but Hofstra added one more insurance run in the top of the seventh as McKevitt ripped a double to left field, scoring Scarpato all the way from first base. Nicholls State put two runners on in their final at bats, but Suto fired her seventh strikeout of the day to knock off the Colonels.
 
Hofstra will return to action this afternoon against South Alabama. First pitch from Jaguar Field is set for 1:30 p.m. local time (2:30 EST). For fans who are unable to attend, live stats and live video will be available with both links located at the top of this release and on the Hofstra Softball schedule page on www.gohofstra.com.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra's 10 hits were a season high
-Mackenzie Suto earned her first collegiate win in the circle
-Hofstra improves to 2-1 all-time against Nicholls State