NEWARK, N.J. – The Hofstra University softball team opened up its 2021 season this weekend with a doubleheader against the Villanova Wildcats at Branch Brook Park. Hofstra defeated Villanova in its first game of the season, 15-4, before dropping the nightcap by a slim 5-4 decision.
 
Junior Meghan Giordano finished 4-for-5 on the day with two home runs, six RBI, and three runs scored, while sophomore Chelsea Manto added five hits, four RBI, and five runs for Hofstra. Sophomore Devyn Losco, junior Angelina Ioppolo, and graduate student Kristin Hallam all had two hits each, while junior Alexis Goeke recorded a three-run home run.
 
Game 1: Hofstra 15, Villanova 4
 
It may have been cold outside, but the bats were on fire as Hofstra drove in 15 runs on 14 hits in its first game of the season. Hofstra jumped on Villanova early, first as Goeke launched a three-run home run to left field to gain an early 3-0 advantage over Villanova. The Wildcats used the next two innings to tie the score back up at two before Hofstra added a fourth run with an RBI single by Giordano.
 
Hofstra exploded for seven runs on six hits in the fourth inning, expanding the lead to 11-4 over Villanova. The Pride opened up the inning with four-straight hits including a lead-off triple by Hay followed by base hits by Ioppolo, Losco and Collins. Manto stepped up to the plate and took an 0-2 pitch opposite field for a three-RBI triple to force a Villanova pitching change. That didn't matter for Hofstra, however, as Giordano notched her second home run of the day, a three-run blast over the left field fence.
 
The Pride continued to do damage with a four-run fifth inning as Hallam, Manto, and Hay all drove in a run. Hofstra had extended its lead to 11, and Villanova was unable to produce any more runs to give Hofstra the eight-run rule victory.
 
Sophomore Nikki Mullin picked up the win, tossing 3.1 innings while striking out one. Madison Burns pitched 1.2 innings in relief and struck out two batters.
 
 
Game 2: Villanova 5, Hofstra 4
 
Hofstra once again scored first as Hallam reached on an error and stole two-straight bases, putting her in position to score on a Jaycee Ruberti sacrifice fly. Villanova had the answer with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, knotting the score at one after the first.
 
The next two frames went scoreless, but Hofstra broke through in the fourth inning when Chelsea Manto led off with a base hit to left field before Ruberti smacked an opposite-field double down the left field line, scoring Manto all the way from first place. Giordano followed Ruberti and launched her second home run of the day, a two-run shot over the left-center field wall, to take a 4-1 lead over Villanova.
 
The Wildcats responded with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Hofstra lead to one, and one inning later, Villanova added a third long ball to tie things up at four. The Pride rallied in the sixth with Manto leading off the inning once again and Giordano followed up with a double, but Hofstra was called out on a play at the plate to keep the score tied, 4-4. Villanova went on to score an unearned run in the seventh to take the game two win from Hofstra.
 
Despite pitching just 1.2 innings in relief inside the circle, sophomore Madison Burns took the loss after giving up just the one hit. Freshman Isabella Pisapia went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs while striking out one.
 
Up Next:
Hofstra will continue action at the Villanova Invitational next weekend. Hofstra will face the Wildcats again on March 13 at 10 a.m. before meeting the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights that afternoon at 3 p.m. Hofstra will close out the weekend against Villanova on March 14 at 12 p.m. Coverage links will be posted on the Hofstra schedule page when available.  

Notes:
-Kristin Hallam recorded two stolen bases on the day and now has 57 stolen bases for her career. With her 56th swipe, she became Hofstra's all-time career in stolen bases, surpassing Lisa Wambold who had 55 for Hofstra form 2003-06.
-Hofstra scattered 20 total hits as a team in its first doubleheader of the season
-As a team, Hofstra batted .392 across both games while recording a team on base percentage of .459 and slugging percentage of .706.
-Hofstra recorded eight extra base hits on the day.