Elon, N.C. – The second-seeded Hofstra softball team fell to the third-seeded UNCW Seahawks in the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship at Hunt Softball Park on the campus of Elon University on Thursday afternoon.
 
It was a true pitcher's duel, as the teams combined for just five hits in the entirety of the contest. The duo of Haley Venturini (8-9) and Annabella Pisapia combined to complete the game and after surrendering three consecutive hits to the Seahawks in the first inning, did not allow a hit the remainder of the contest.
 
Venturini tossed 3.1 innings for Hofstra and struck out six batters, before Pisapia pitched a 3.2 fantastic innings with two strikeouts.
 
The third-seeded Seahawks got off to a fast start as the first four batters reached base in the first frame. An RBI single scored UNCW's first run before the Seahawks scratched another run across in the top of the fourth with a squeeze bunt.
 
Hofstra answered in the bottom half of the fourth when Meghan Giordano launched a lead-off solo home run, pulling the Pride within one. Hofstra made some noise in the bottom of the fifth when Devyn Losco drew a walk and Chelsea Manto reached on an infield single to give Hofstra two on with two outs, but the Pride was unable to capitalize. Anna Butler singled through the left size in Hofstra's final chance, but UNCW escaped with the win.
 
Hofstra dropped to 21-26 overall while UNCW improved to 30-13. Hofstra will now face the fifth-seeded Charleston Cougars in an elimination game tonight (May 12) at approximately 6:30 p.m.
 
 Notes:
-Manto extended her hitting streak to 10 games while Giordano is just behind at nine. Manto has also reached base in 29 consecutive games while Giordano has reached safely in 19-straight contests. 
-Hofstra turned one double play
-Giordano recorded her team-leading seventh home run of the season