Baltimore, Md. - The Hofstra softball team split a pair of games at the Retriever Round Robin hosted by UMBC on Friday, March 11. Hofstra suffered a 2-0 decision against UMBC in game one before turning around for a run-rule victory in six innings over Brown, 9-1.
Game 1: UMBC 2, Hofstra 0
Hofstra struggled to get the bats going against UMBC as the Pride recorded just five hits, including a 3-for-4 effort by Chelsea Manto.
The game was scoreless through three and a half innings when UMBC's Logan Hawker hit a solo home run to left-center field. The Retrievers added another solo home run in the sixth to make it 2-0, and Manto hit a two-out single in the seventh but the effort fell short as the Pride dropped game one on the day.
Julia Apsel pitched 5.1 total innings inside the circle and struck out three batters. Kya Matter earned the win for UMBC.
Game 2: Hofstra 9 Brown 1 (6)
Brown struck in the first inning with an RBI double, and after the second stanza went by, the Pride exploded for eight runs on six hits and four Bear errors. Devyn Losco got the rally started with a bunt single before Manto, Meghan Giordano, Madison McKevitt, and Amanda Maffucci added base hits to the rally. Losco doubled down the left field line for her second at-bat of the inning to increase the score to 7-1 before Maffucci scored on a wild pitch to cap off the rally at 8-1.
During the offensive burst, Kasey Collins also reached on a walk, Sam Ward reached on a throwing error, Angelina Ioppolo tacked on an RBI on a fielder's choice, and Manto walked during her second at bat of the inning. Losco, Manto, Collins, Giordano, Ward, Ioppolo, McKevitt and Maffucci all scored runs during the frame.
Hofstra nearly ended the contest in the fifth, but the Pride left three runners on base after a fielder's choice ended the inning. In the bottom half of the sixth, Giordano and Ward led off with base hits through the left side before Giordano was able to advance to third one batter later. McKevitt drove home the final run that Hofstra would need to end the game early when she dribbled a ball to the second baseman, allowing GIordano to break for home from third and slide safely under the tag to claim Hofstra's second run-rule victory of the season.
Haley Venturini tossed her first career win inside the circle for Hofstra, going all six innings while striking out four batters. Lauren Innerst took the loss after 2.1 innings of work.
Up next:
After 16 road games, the Pride will make its first appearances at Bill Edwards Stadium next weekend for the Hofstra Invitational. The Pride will host Iona and Syracuse this weekend and will kick things off with a doubleheader against the Iona Gaels on Friday, March 18 at 1 p.m.
Notes:
-Manto led Hofstra with four hits on the afternoon
-Giordano had three hits for the Pride, drove in two runs, and scored the game-winning run for the Pride against Brown
-Hofstra's 12 hits against Brown were a season-high
