HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Hofstra Softball team suffered two decisions to the No. 20/18 James Madison Dukes in Colonial Athletic Association action at Bill Edwards Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Pride dropped the first contest, 9-4 before falling in the second, 16-2.
 
Hofstra moves to 16-17 overall and 3-5 in the CAA while James Madison improves to 26-6 overall and 7-1 in the conference.
 
Freshman first baseman Angelina Ioppolo went 3-for-6 at the plate with three RBI, while three Pride players, including freshman Meghan Giordano, junior Kristin Hallam and sophomore Devyn Losco all had two hits. In addition to Ioppolo, Losco, freshman Jaycee Ruberti and senior Courtney Scarpato all had one RBI while Giordano scored a team-high two runs.
 
Game 1: James Madison 9, Hofstra 4
 
Through the first two innings, freshman Madison Burns allowed only three Dukes to reach base, but JMU found the scoreboard in the top of the third inning with three runs. After the Pride went down in order, James Madison scored six unearned runs one inning later to increase the lead to nine.
 
Hofstra round life in the bottom of the fourth, as Hallam got a rally started with a single up the middle. Giordano added another base hit through the left side, before Scarpato reached on a fielding error to load the bases with no outs. Ioppolo then knocked in both Giordano and Hallam with a base hit, and Ruberti added another Pride run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Losco cut the deficit to five runs when she launched her first career home run, a solo shot over the left field fence to cut the score to 9-4.
 
James Madison was held off the scoreboard for the remainder of the way and Hofstra went hitless in their final three at bats as the score was finalized at the end of seven innings, 9-4. Burns (9-9) suffered the loss, pitching all seven innings while surrendering just three earned runs while striking out three.
 
Game 2: James Madison 16, Hofstra 2 (5 inn.)
 
James Madison wasted no time, as the Dukes scored seven runs in the first inning off of four hits and one Pride error. The visitors added five more runs between the second and third innings, before Collins, who drew a leadoff walk, scored on an Ioppolo single to right field.
 
James Madison added four additional runs, but Hofstra was able to manage one more tally when Giordano led off the bottom of the fifth and scored on a hard-hit Scarpato single up the middle.
 
Despite the outcome, Hofstra managed to piece together eight total hits from the top seven batters in the order, led by Ioppolo who finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Up Next:
 
Hofstra will close out the series with James Madison tomorrow, April 7 with first pitch at Bill Edwards Stadium set for noon.

Notes:
-Hofstra now leads the all-time series against James Madison, 40-24
-Meghan Giordano increased her hitting streak to 10 games while Losco improved hers to seven
-Losco hit her first career home run