MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The Hofstra University Softball team claimed the series against the College of Charleston with a 5-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point. Hofstra improves to 14-12 on the year and 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association while the College of Charleston drops to 15-15 and 1-2 in the CAA.
 
Freshman Kasey Collins was the only Pride player to tally three hits on the day, as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Freshman Meghan Giordano posted a team-high two RBI with a two-run home run in the first inning. Freshman Angelina Ioppolo had another solid day at the plate, driving in one run while scoring another on a 2-for-3 performance, while sophomore Devyn Losco had the final RBI for the Pride.
 
Freshman right-hander Madison Burns pitched another solid game for Hofstra, tossing her second-straight complete game and 10th overall, allowing five hits while striking out three.
 
Hofstra got off to yet another hot start, putting runs on the scoreboard in the first inning for the third-straight game, as senior Courtney Scarpato reached on an infield single, before Giordano drilled a two-run homer over the left field wall, her eighth blast of the season. The Pride added another tally in the top of the fifth, as Kasey Collins placed a single up the middle on the ninth pitch of her at bat to score freshman Imani Myint from second base after reaching on a bunt single and advancing on a stolen base.
 
The advantage stretched out to five in the top of the sixth, when Ioppolo knocked a double to right center field, allowing Giordano to score all the way from first base after drawing a nine-pitch walk. After a ground out which moved Ioppolo over, Losco put down a hard ground ball which was misplayed by the Charleston shortstop, allowing Ioppolo to touch home.
 
Charleston broke up Burns' shutout in its final offensive opportunity as the Cougars strung together three-straight singles to start a late rally, but a double play by the Pride cut that attempt short, finalizing the score while allowing the Pride to claim the series, 2-1. 
 
Hofstra will travel back to the northeast and take on LIU Brooklyn for the second time this season in a weekday matchup, this time at LIU Field. First pitch against the Blackbirds is set for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. Following that contest, the Pride will begin a stretch of seven-straight home games, beginning with a series against the University of Delaware on March 30 and 31.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra extended its nation-leading double play total to 22 and is second in double plays per game with 0.85.
-Hofstra has now scored first 16 times this season and is 13-4 when scoring first. The Pride has also scored first in six consecutive games and in the first inning for three-straight games.
-Hallam and Collins extended their hitting streaks to 11 games
-Hallam extended her reached base streak to 25 games and Collins extended hers to 17 games
-Hofstra is now 14-7 all-time against Charleston and has won five of the last six games against the Cougars