Fairfax, VA - The Hofstra University softball team split a pair of games on day two of the George Mason Invitational on Saturday. Hofstra defeated the University of Buffalo, 10-7 before dropping game two to the Cornell University Big Red, 6-3.
 
Hofstra slipped to 3-13 with the split. Buffalo is 2-9 while Cornell is 4-3.
 
Game 1: Hofstra 10, Buffalo 7
Hofstra wasted no time taking an early lead, plating one run during the bottom of the first on an RBI-groundout by Pietrzykoski. The Bulls responded two innings later, pulling level with an RBI-single to make it 1-1 midway through the third frame.
 
Pietrzykoski continued to carry a hot bat, clearing the bases with a triple during the bottom of the third and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Pride ahead by a 5-1 margin. The seesaw action continued, however, as the Bulls quickly erased the deficit with a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a grand slam. Buffalo's big inning gave them a 7-4 advantage, though the Pride continued to have a response in their breakout performance.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, Pietrzykoski pulled Hofstra within two runs with a sacrifice fly to center field, and two batters later Giordano launched her first home run of the season with a grand slam of her own to cap off a five-run inning for the Pride. The long ball gave Hofstra a 9-7 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Kasey Collins added an insurance run late on an RBI-single and the Pride held off Buffalo for the 10-7 victory.
 
The 10 runs were the most for Hofstra in a game this season, while the team's eight hits rank second. Collins three runs scored were also a single-game high this season.
 
In the circle, Natalie Grubczak earned her first career win, while Madison Burns picked up her first save of the season.
 
Game 2: Cornell 6, Hofstra 3
The Big Red jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings of game two before holding off the Pride, 6-3. A four-run fourth inning, capped by a three-run home run from Bridgette Rooney, put Cornell in the driver's seat.
 
The Pride got a run back in the third, taking advantage of a throwing error but Cornell got it right back in its half of the frame as the Big Red loaded the bases and scored a run on a fielder's choice grounder.
 
Hofstra would score single runs in the fourth and fifth with Chelsea Manto driving in a run in the fourth with a single and Alexis Goeke knocking in the final run with a single in the fifth.
 
Manto and Giordano each had two hits in the game. Nikki Mullin (1-5) took the loss on the mound, allowing six runs on nine hits over four innings of work.
 
Gabrielle Maday (1-1) picked up the win with a complete game seven-hitter. She allowed just one earned run to notch her first career victory.
 
Up Next:
Hofstra close out the George Mason Invitational tomorrow, Sunday March 8 against George Mason. First pitch at the George Mason Softball Complex is set for 2:15 p.m.