HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Hofstra University Softball team continued its win-streak in its 2019 home opener, edging out the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds in a non-conference contest at Bill Edwards Stadium. The Pride have now won six-straight games and improve to 12-11 on the year while LIU Brooklyn drops to 15-12.
 
Hofstra was led by the core upperclassmen duo of junior Kristin Hallam and senior Courtney Scarpato who both drove in two runs off of two hits. Freshman Kasey Collins, sophomore Devyn Losco and freshman Madison McKevitt also tallied a pair of hits, while Hallam, Losco, McKevitt and freshman Imani Myint scored Hofstra's four runs. Losco also had a great game behind the plate defensively, catching two runners stealing on two attempts.
 
Freshman Mackenzie Suto picked up the win in the circle, improving to 5-5 on the season while tossing 4.1 innings, striking out two. Freshman Madison Burns pitched 2.2 innings in relief and picked up her first career save with two strikeouts while not surrendering a run.
 
After each team went scoreless to open up the game, Hofstra struck with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, when Losco and McKevitt teamed up for back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. With two outs, Hallam tacked on an RBI single to score Losco, and Collins continued the rally, beating out a bunt single to load the bases. Scarpato then ripped a single to right field, allowing Hallam and McKevitt to come around and increase the lead to 3-0.
 
The Blackbirds responded with one run in the top of the third with an RBI double, but the Pride added another run in the fourth when Myint tripled to right center field and scored during Hofstra's next at bat on a fielding error.
 
LIU Brooklyn applied pressure in the top of the fifth as the Blackbirds cut the Hofstra deficit to just one run, but Burns got out of a tough situation, pitching two-straight outs to end a bases-loaded jam. After a quiet sixth inning by both teams, Hofstra shut down the visitors with a line out, caught stealing, and swinging strikeout to cement the final score.
 
Hofstra will open up Colonial Athletic Association action this weekend, March 23 and 24 against the College of Charleston at the Charleston Softball Stadium. The Pride will open up with a doubleheader against the Cougars on Saturday at 12 p.m. and will close out the weekend with a single game on Sunday, also at noon. For fans who are unable to attend, live stats and video will be available.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra improves to 12-11 this season, breaking the .500 barrier for the first time this season
-Hallam extended her current hit streak to eight games and has now reached base safely in 21 consecutive games
-Hofstra improved to 23-9 over LIU Brooklyn and increased its win-streak to eight games over the Blackbirds
-Hallam had her 11th multiple hit game of the season while Collins picked up her eighth  and Scarpato had her fifth
-Myint picked up her first career triple