HAMPTON, Va. – Six different players recorded two hits, led by a three-run home run from freshman Meghan Giordano, as the Hofstra University Softball Team rolled to its fourth victory in five chances at the Blue and White Classic with an 11-2 triumph over Hampton University on Sunday, March 10 at Lady Pirates Softball Stadium.
 
Giordano and classmate Madison McKevitt drove in three runs each as McKevitt cleared the bases with a pinch-hit double during the sixth inning. Sophomore Devyn Losco also joined the hit parade with a pair of hits, including an RBI-double to give Hofstra the lead early on. In the circle, freshman Madison Burns tossed a complete game to earn the win, striking out five batters while surrendering just two runs.
 
After going down in order during the first inning, freshman Jaycee Ruberti delivered a one-out single to left field and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Lady Pirates. With two runners on, Losco knocked her double to center field, and a fielder's choice helped the Pride plate a second run to take a 2-0 lead. Hampton responded quickly in the bottom half of the frame, scoring twice on a one-out double to left-center field and the two sides headed to the third inning level, 2-2.
 
Despite threatening their next three at-bats, the Pride could not push any runs across and the score remained 2-2 through five innings. Hofstra broke the game open during the top of the sixth, driving in five runs on five hits and two Hampton errors. After three consecutive singles, McKevitt found the right-center field gap to clear the bases, giving the Pride a 5-2 edge. After re-entering into the lineup after McKevitt's plate appearance, freshman Kasey Collins stole third base and scored on a throwing error by the Lady Pirates on the attempt. Freshman Angelina Ioppolo capped off the scoring with an RBI-single to left field before Hampton stranded the bases loaded. The damage was done though, as Hofstra took a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Despite surrendering a leadoff walk, Burns induced a double-play ball to help retire the side in order and the Pride put the game out of reach for good during the seventh inning when four more runners crossed the plate. Senior Courtney Scarpato drove in the first run with a single to the opposite field and later scored on Giordano's three-run blast, giving Hofstra the 11-2 final tally.
 
The Pride will play its first contest in New York on Friday, March 15 when they open the St. John's Invitational against the host Red Storm at 1:00 p.m. at Red Storm Field.