NORFOLK, Va. - The Hofstra softball team earned its first and second shutout victories this season, as the Pride defeated Norfolk State, 6-0 and Albany, 2-0 to kick off the Blue and White Classic hosted by Norfolk State and Hampton on Friday.
 
Hofstra improves to 5-10 on the season, while Burns earned her first collegiate win in the circle and Suto tossed her third. Leading the Pride at the dish was senior Courtney Scarpato, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, while freshman Meghan Giordano and freshman Kasey Collins both added a pair of hits.

The Hofstra pitching staff pitched arguably its best all season, allowing just eight total hits in 14.0 innings pitched with eight strikeouts while not allowing a run.
 
Game 1: Hofstra 6, Norfolk State 0
Hofstra opened up the tournament with a convincing win over host Norfolk State, as three Pride players tallied two hits, led by Scarpato who was 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored, two walks and two RBI, while Collins and Giordano also added two hits. Freshman Madison Burns had a great outing inside the circle, tossing a complete-game, four-hit shutout with two strikeouts for her first collegiate win.
 
After two scoreless innings, Hofstra got on the scoreboard first as junior Kristin Hallam drew a walk and eventually scored on a Scarpato bunt single. After a quick fourth inning, Hofstra added two runs with a Scarpato triple to right center and a Giordano single to left center, increasing the score to 3-0.
 
Hofstra began to add insurance in the top of the sixth inning as freshman Angelina Ioppolo scored pinch runner Amanda Maffucci, before the Pride put it out of reach in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI single by freshman Madison McKevitt which scored Giordano and Scarpato.
 
­­Game 2: Hofstra 2, Albany 0
Despite producing just one hit over the full seven innings, the Hofstra defense was locked down, allowing just four hits while stranding eight Great Danes on the base paths. Freshman Mackenzie Suto earned her third win of the season, pitching a complete-game, four-hit shutout with six strikeouts, just one away from her season-high.
 
At the dish, Hofstra remained patient at the plate all game long, forcing a season-high eight walks. Sophomore Devyn Losco tallied the lone hit for the Pride, while Hallam and Collins scored Hofstra's runs.
 
The Pride scored right off the bat as Hallam drew a lead-off walk and stole second and third, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Scarpato. Losco singled up the middle an inning later, and that's all the offense the Pride would get until the top of the sixth, when Collins also led off the inning with a walk and scored on a Jaycee Ruberti sacrifice bunt to increase the lead to two runs in the top of the sixth. Suto only allowed two runners on base the rest of the way as the Pride completed the shutout victory.
 
Up Next:
Hofstra will return to action tomorrow, March 9 with games against Iona and Morgan State. First pitch against the Iona Gaels is at 9 a.m., and first pitch against the Morgan State Bears is at 11:15 a.m. Both games will be held at the NSU Softball Field, and live stats and video will be available.