Louisville, KY - The Hofstra softball team settled for another split on day two of the Cardinal Classic. Hofstra first defeated Western Michigan in sixth innings before falling to Illinois in game two.
Game 1: Hofstra 10, Western Michigan 2 (6)
Hofstra had its best offensive output of the season against Western Michigan with a season-high 10 runs and nine hits. The Pride dropped a 4-0 decision to the Broncos last night and bounced back for a 10-2 run-rule victory.
After two innings of scoreless action, Hofstra caused havoc on the bases as a wild pitch with the bases loaded scored a pair of runs give Hofstra a 2-0 advantage. The rally continued for the Pride when
Angelina Ioppolo drove in
Sam Ward with a base hit to left before
Kayla Wilson tacked on another two-out RBI single for Hofstra to take a 4-0 lead after three frames.
After
Julia Apsel retired the side in order in the top of the fourth, the Pride poured on four more runs in the bottom half of the inning to increase the lead to 8-0.
Chelsea Manto scored on a passed ball after leading off with an infield single, and two batters later,
Madison McKevitt drilled a pitch to right field to send home Ward and
Brianna Morse who were both hit by a pitch to reach base.
Devyn Losco capped off the inning with a base hit to the shortstop to score McKevitt.
Down to their final out, Western Michigan loaded the bases and avoided the fifth-inning mercy rule defeat with an infield single and error, allowing two runs to come in. Apsel tossed three-straight outs in the top of the sixth as the game moved to the bottom half of the inning with Ioppolo leading off with a walk. Ioppolo scored on a base hit up the middle by Wilson, and Wilson scored on a walk-off base hit to left field by Manto to give Hofstra the six-inning mercy rule victory.
Apsel spun another great game in the circle, striking out six batters and allowed just three hits in five innings of work.
Annabella Pisapia pitched the final frame in relief.
Game 2: Hofstra 0, Illinois 8
The first two innings featured just one hit between both teams, but the Fighting Illini broke through in the top of the third with a two-RBI single. After a walk, Illinois extended the lead to six with a grand slam by Delaney Rummell.
Meghan Giordano responded with a one-out double to left-center field, but the Pride was unable to push anything across in the fourth. Illinois added one more run in the fifth and one in the seventh, and Giordano added another base hit in the final inning, but the deficit was too much to overcome for the Pride.
Nikki Mullin started the game and pitched three innings and struck out one batter. Pisapia threw four innings in relief and fanned a career-high three batters.
Hofstra is now 2-11 following today's action.
Up Next:
Hofstra closes out the Cardinal Classic with one more game against Louisville. First pitch is set for tomorrow morning, Sunday March 6 at 11:30 a.m.
