SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Hofstra softball team struck first in the top of the second, but Seton Hall scored four unanswered runs to take a non-conference contest from the Pride at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field on Thursday.
Hofstra falls to 16-19 overall on the year while Seton Hall jumps to 17-16.
Both teams scattered five hits on the day, as five different Pride players each tallying one, including junior
Kristin Hallam, freshman
Meghan Giordano, freshman
Angelina Ioppolo, freshman
Jaycee Ruberti and junior
Alexis Goeke. In addition to going 1-for-1 at the plate, Ruberti recorded two walks and scored the lone Pride run, while sophomore
Devyn Losco recorded Hofstra's one run batted in.
Freshman
Mackenzie Suto (6-8) suffered the loss, pitching 4.0 innings inside the circle while surrendering three runs with one strikeout. Junior
Courtney Scarpato tossed 2.0 innings in relief and did not allow a hit.
Both Hofstra and Seton Hall left two runners on base in the first inning, but Ruberti led off with a triple to right field and scored on a Losco sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead. Seton Hall answered in the bottom of the third, knotting the game at one after scoring on a wild pitch.
Eight runners managed to reach base over the fourth and fifth innings, but Hofstra left five total runners on during the frames, while in the meantime, Seton Hall extended the lead to two with an RBI double by Janae Barracato and RBI double by Hailey Arteaga, the one and two batters in the lineup, respectively.
The Pirates added one final run in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of another Hofstra defensive miscue to finalize the score at 4-1. Giordano ripped a one-out double down the left field line in the seventh to keep the Pride in it, but the rally was halted with two-straight outs to end the non-conference contest.
Hofstra will quickly turn around for a Colonial Athletic Association series at Drexel, which will now begin tomorrow, Friday, April 12 with first pitch at the Drexel Softball Field set for 2 p.m. The doubleheader against the Dragons will follow on Saturday at 1 p.m.
NOTES:
-Hallam stole one base against Seton Hall and is now tied for third in stolen bases in a single season with 21
-Hofstra is now 14-7 when scoring first
-Giordano is on a 12-game reached base streak and Ruberti is on a three-game hitting streak
-Hofstra still leads the all-time series, 14-11
