HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Freshman Meghan Giordano capped off a seventh-inning comeback with a walk-off single through the left side of the infield to lift the Hofstra University softball team to a 9-8 victory in its series opener against Towson University on Saturday, April 20 at Bill Edwards Stadium.
 
Giordano had a stellar day at the plate, finishing 4-for-5 with two doubles and four runs batted in, including the game-winner to help the Pride overcome a one-run deficit during their final at-bat. Junior Alexis Goeke added two hits, tallying a double and also walked twice to reach base all four plate appearances.
 
Junior Kristin Hallam reached base four times, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Hallam also was a menace on the base paths, swiping three bases to set the single-season stolen base record at 27. Hallam surpassed the previous mark of 26 set by Kris Root during the 2008.
 
Towson scored first during the top of the first inning when Nicole Stockinger hooked a two-run home run just inside the right-field foul pole to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Hofstra cut the deficit in half when Giordano doubled to deep center field to score Hallam during the bottom half of the frame. The back-and-forth action continued early when Towson scored one run to increase its lead before Hofstra took its first lead of the night in the bottom of the frame behind a two-run single by Hallam.
 
Following a scoreless third, Towson jumped back ahead with two runs during the fourth and one during the top of the fifth. Hofstra threatened in the bottom of the fifth but the Tigers stranded three runners on base to keep the score 6-4. Towson used two RBI-singles during the top of the sixth to push the lead to four runs, needing just six outs to take the series opener.
 
Hofstra's bats came alive late, however, as Hallam reached base after getting hit by a pitch and recorded her record-breaking stolen base to move into scoring position. A dropped pop-up by Towson put two runners on base and Giordano took full advantage when she roped a ball of the top of the fence in left-center field to plate both runners. An infield-single by senior Courtney Scarpato made it a one-run game heading into the final inning.
 
Freshman Madison Burns stranded two runners on base to keep Towson scoreless during the top half of the stanza and Goeke led off the bottom of the inning with a single into shallow right field to put the tying run on base. A Tiger error on a sacrifice bunt attempt put two runners on base and two consecutive walks brought home the tying run to set the stage for Giordano. After falling behind 0-1, Giordano ripped a single through the left side of the infield to drive in sophomore Devyn Losco to help the Pride overcome a four-run deficit for the victory.
 
The Pride return to action tomorrow for the final two games of the three-game set with the Tigers tomorrow at Bill Edwards Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
 
NOTES:
 
-Hofstra leads the all-time series against Towson, 72-20, and holds a four-game win streak over the Tigers.
-Hallam tied her season-high with three stolen bases and now has 27 total steals on the season, a new program record. Hallam surpassed the previous mark of 26 held by Kris Root set during the 2008 season.
-Goeke extended her current hitting streak to six games, the longest active streak for the Pride.
-The win was the first walk-off victory of the season for Hofstra.