STANFORD, Calif. – The Hofstra University softball team continued action at the Stanford Invitational on Saturday afternoon and split a pair of games against Drake University and RV/RV Stanford University at Boyd & Jill Smith family Stadium.
 
Hofstra defeated Drake, 5-3 to get the day started before falling to Stanford, 1-0 in a true pitcher's duel.
 
Sophomore Kasey Collins posted a team-high three hits on the day, while freshman Lindsey Hay and sophomore Jaycee Ruberti also collected a pair of hits. Four Pride players including Collins, Hay, and sophomores Meghan Giordano and Angelina Ioppolo all drove in Hofstra runs.
 
Game 1: Hofstra 5, Drake 3
 
Back-to-back extra base hits, including a two-run homer by Drake's Sarah Maddox in the top of the first inning allowed the Bulldogs to take an early two-run advantage over Hofstra. After recording just one hit through the first four innings, the Pride leveled the contest in the fourth when Giordano hit a leadoff single to right field before Hay tacked on a stand-up double to put runners on second and third. Ioppolo plated Hofstra's first run with a sacrifice fly and Hay scored on a wild pitch to even things up at two.
 
After Drake responded with one run in the fifth, the Hofstra bats got hot with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. McKevitt, freshman Jordan Pietrzykoski and Collins strung together three-straight hits before Giordano and Hay drove in the fourth and fifth runs for Hofstra, who took a 5-3 lead over the Bulldogs.
 
Freshman Nikki Mullin, who tossed her second-straight complete game, did not allow a hit for the final two innings and collected her first career win inside to give Hofstra its first win of the season. The game also featured several highlight reel plays to keep Drake off the scoreboard.
 
Game 2: RV/RV Stanford 1, Hofstra 0
 
One swing was the difference-maker in game two, and that swing occurred in the bottom of the first inning as Stanford's Kaitlyn Lim hit a solo home run to right-center field. Stanford added a pair of hits in the third, but the Hofstra defense shut down the Cardinal and ended the inning on a ground out.
 
Hofstra managed just three total hits across three separate innings, as Collins, Ruberti and Corben all collected base knocks.
 
Despite taking the loss in the circle, sophomore Madison Burns pitched well and let her defense take care of making plays, inducing 13 ground balls while adding two strikeouts.  
 
Up Next:
Hofstra will close out action at the Stanford Invitational for a third contest against the Drake Bulldogs. First pitch at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium is set for 12 p.m. EST (9 a.m. PST).