Houston, TX – The Hofstra softball team resumed competition at the Houston Classic Saturday afternoon and hung tough in a pair of losses to #12 Washington and Houston from the Cougar Softball Stadium.
Game 1: #12 Washington 8, Hofstra 0
After a scoreless first inning,
Aliya Catanzarita drew a lead-off walk in the top of the second, and
Becca Vaillancourt singled to left field.
Angelina Ioppolo advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt them in scoring position, but Hofstra couldn't capitalize on the scoring opportunity. Washington (7-1) jumped in front with a solo home run to left center in the second inning before plating three more in the third inning. Washington added another run by home run in the fifth inning, and the game concluded with a three-run sixth inning for the Huskies.
Haley Venturini pitched 4.2 innings and recorded a strikeout.
Julia Apsel pitched an inning of relief.
Game #2: Houston 3, Hofstra 0
After a lead-off single by
Kasey Collins came to nothing in the top of the first, Houston (4-3) drove in the opening run on a two-out double to right field in the bottom half of the inning. The Cougars doubled their lead in the bottom of the third with a two-out single to right field. The Pride had a chance to tie the game in the top of the fourth after Vaillancourt singled and
Kayla Wilson reached base on a Houston error with two outs, but Hofstra once again couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as
Angelina Ioppolo struck out to end the inning.
Houston scored its third and final run in the bottom of the fifth with a home run to center field. Hofstra had a chance to make it a one-score game in the top of the seventh after Wilson drew a one-out walk, but
Anna Butler grounded into a double play for the final outs.
Nikki Mullin picked up the loss while pitching 4.1 innings.
Emma Brennan pitched 1.2 innings in relief and struck out two against two hits allowed.
Hofstra wraps up the Houston Classic on Sunday, February 19, against Morgan State at 10 a.m. CST.
