QUEENS, N.Y. – The Hofstra University Softball team won its sixth out of the last seven games, taking down the St. John's University Red Storm by a score of 9-3 to open up the St. John's Invitational at Red Storm Field. Hofstra improved to 8-11 on the season while St. John's dropped to 8-13.
 
Freshman first basemen Angelina Ioppolo led the Pride at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, followed by junior Kristin Hallam, freshman Meghan Giordano and sophomore Devyn Losco who all tallied a pair of hits. Seven different Pride players each drove in at least one run while three players scored twice. 
 
Hofstra jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first two innings when Giordano hit a no-out single to score Hallam who led off the inning with a walk. A sacrifice fly by McKevitt increased the Pride lead to two, sending home Scarpato who drew a walk in her at-bat. In the top of the second, The Pride put runners on second and third with a lead-off double by Ioppolo and a bunt single by Losco, as Hallam singled to center field to extend the Hofstra lead to three.

Freshman Madison Burns pitched a complete-game, her seventh of the season, improving to 4-6 on the year while striking out one batter.
 
The Red Storm got back into the game with a two-run bottom of the second to trip the Pride lead to one run, but Hofstra took the run back in the top of the third when Ioppolo hit an RBI double to left field, scoring freshman Jaycee Ruberti all the way from first base.
 
Scarpato stretched the Hofstra advantage even further, driving her second home run of the season over the left field fence with two outs. The score remained 5-2 until the bottom of the fifth when St. John's added an unearned run with runners on second and third, but Losco caught a runner stealing at second base to end the frame.
 
Hofstra took control in the final stanza, as McKevitt and Ruberti got on base with a base hit and a walk, before Ioppolo added another hit, sending McKevitt home. Losco followed that up with a single which scored Ioppolo and Ruberti, before freshman Kasey Collins had an RBI bunt single which scored Hofstra's ninth and final run of the game.
 
The Pride will return to the diamond tomorrow, March 16 for a single game against the Wagner Seahawks. First pitch from Red Storm Field is set for 2:00 pm. For fans who are unable to attend, Pride Productions live audio and live stats will be available.
 
NOTES
 -It was the fourth-straight game that Hofstra had 10 or more hits
-Hofstra stole four bases, one away from its season high