NORFOLK, Va. –  The Hofstra softball team earned its fourth win of the row with a convincing win over Iona but then dropped the latter half of a doubleheader against Morgan State, as the Pride split on day two of the Blue & White Classic. Hofstra is now 6-11 on the season.
 
Hofstra saw several solid performances at the plate, led by freshman Meghan Giordano who was a pivotal piece of the batting order with a 5-for-7 day at the plate with two home runs and six RBI. Junior Kristin Hallam hit .800 over the span of two games, as she was 4-for-5 with a team-high four runs scored while driving in two. Senior Courtney Scarpato also had a solid day with two hits and five RBI that included her first home run of the season, a grand slam in game one against Iona.
 
Game 1: Hofstra 13, Iona 1 (6 inn.)
 
Hofstra broke out the big bats against Iona, plating a season-high 13 runs on 10 hits to sail past the Gaels. Freshman Madison Burns (2-6) pitched another excellent game in the circle, earning her second-straight win behind a 6.0 inning performance where she struck out five and only walked one.
 
The Pride scoring got started exactly how it gets started often, as Hallam led off with a single up the middle before advancing to second with a stolen base. Hallam went on to score as Giordano singled up the middle to take an early lead. The Pride offense heated up even more in the top of the second when the Pride put its first three runners on base before adding runs on a fielder's choice, ground out and an RBI double down the left field line by Hallam to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
Iona got one run back in the bottom of the third, but Hofstra burst for four runs on one hit in their next at bats, as Ioppolo scored first off of a Hallam bunt. Two at bats later, Giordano launched a three-run homer to center field as Hofstra gained an 8-1 advantage over the Gaels in the top of the fourth.
 
After a quiet at bat in the fourth, Hofstra's offense continued to dominate, as the Pride loaded the bases with a Devyn Losco walk and back-to-back bunt singles by Collins and Hallam. Scarpato cleared the bases with a grand slam to center field to make the lead 12-1, and Giordano followed up with her second home run of the day to make it a 12-run game. Burns retired the final three batters of the game in order as Hofstra earned the mercy rule victory.
 
Game 2: Morgan State 12, Hofstra 6
Hofstra tallied at least 10 hits for the second-straight game and out-hit the Bears, 10-8, but the Pride left 10 runners on base during game two. Freshman Mackenzie Suto suffered the loss, pitching 4.1 innings with five strikeouts while surrendering three earned runs.
 
Hofstra scored in the first inning with a Scarpato RBI single up the middle, scoring Collins who led off the game with a walk. It wasn't until the bottom of the third when either team struck again, but this time it was Morgan State who plated five runs on two hits, taking advantage of one Pride error to gain a four-run lead.
 
Morgan State continued chipping away with three more runs, but Hofstra remained in it with a Giordano sacrifice fly and wild pitch, cutting the deficit to three. Hofstra was able to get one more run in the top of the sixth, but Morgan State crossed the plate three more times to finalize the score.
 
Up Next:
Hofstra will close out the Blue and White Classic tomorrow, Sunday, March 10 at Hampton. First pitch against the Pirates is set for 12:30 pm at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium.