STANFORD, Calif. – The Hofstra University softball team opened its 2020 season in the Golden State with a pair of games against Drake University and RV/RV Stanford University at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium on Friday, Feb. 14.
The Pride (0-2) began the day against Drake (4-2), falling by a 7-1 margin before taking on Stanford (7-2) in the nightcap. The Cardinal was victorious by a 3-0 margin in game two.
Freshman
Lindsey Hay was one of three Pride hitters to record two hits on the day, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate in her collegiate debut. Senior
Alexis Goeke (2-for-6) and sophomore
Meghan Giordano (2-for-7) also collected multi-hit days.
Freshmen pitchers
Nikki Mullin and
Natalie Grubczak made their collegiate debuts in the circle, with Mullen tossing a complete game against Stanford in her home state.
Game 1: Drake 7, Hofstra 1
Four different players recorded a hit in the day's opener, though the Pride were unable to string together any offense early in the contest. Giordano, Hay, Goeke, and
Angelina Ioppolo recorded one hit each, while sophomore
Jaycee Ruberti earned credit for the lone Hofstra RBI when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded during the final inning.
Sophomore
Madison Burns took the start in the circle, posting four innings of work while
Natalie Grubczak made her collegiate debut in relief, tossing two innings and striking out two.
Three consecutive singles to open the game set the table for a four-run first inning for Drake who took all of the momentum early and did not look back. The Bulldogs tacked on two runs during the fourth and added a final insurance run during the sixth to improve to 4-2 on the early season.
Game 2: RV/RV Stanford 3, Hofstra 0
The Cardinal showed their strength in the circle as Alana Vawter allowed just four hits in a complete-game effort. Giordano, Hay, and Goeke all tallied one hit for the second-straight game, while Ruberti also picked up her first hit of the season.
Hofstra threatened early with two runners on base with one out in the first inning. A single to left field by Hay gave the Pride an opportunity to jump ahead but Ruberti was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second base and Stanford escaped the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the second inning, Stanford tallied the game's opening run on a solo home run and added one run in the third and fourth frames. The Pride advanced two runners into scoring position and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh inning before Vawter escaped the jam to end the game.
Up Next:
The Pride return to the diamond tomorrow when they take on Drake and Stanford in a rematch of Friday's contests. Hofstra will open the day against the Bulldogs with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (EST).
