Stony Brook, NY – Behind a three-RBI day from
Becca Vaillancourt, plus 10 strikeouts from
Haley Venturini, the Hofstra softball team opened its Colonial Athletic Association schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Long Island rival Stony Brook. The Pride won game one, 7-6, in nine innings before taking the second game, 9-1, from University Field.
Hofstra improves to 7-13 overall and 2-0 in the CAA following its doubleheader wins, and Stony Brook drops to 8-12 overall and 0-5 in its first conference games as members of the CAA.
Game #1: Hofstra 7, Stony Brook 6 (9 inn.)
The Pride jumped out in front in the top of the second as
Kayla Wilson scored on a wild pitch to make it a 1-0 game. The Pride made it 2-0 after
Chelsea Manto scored from third on a throwing error by Stony Brook pitcher Mia Haynes on a
Kasey Collins single.
Meghan Giordano made it 3-0 with a two-out double bringing Collins home from second. The Seawolves added a run in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice bunt.
A three-run third inning pushed Hofstra's lead to five. Wilson drove in
Brianna Morse on a double, and
Alanna Morse plated two runs with a two-RBI double. Stony Brook cut the deficit to two runs with a three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the third inning. The home team sent another ball over the outfield wall in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a one-run difference, and the Seawolves knotted the game at 6-6 with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After scoreless seventh and eighth innings, the Pride plated the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs, Giordano reached first on a fielding error by the Stony Brook shortstop, and
Aliya Catanzarita reached base on a walk. Vaillancourt slapped a single into right field, bringing Giordano home from second base to give the visitors the one-run lead. Stony Brook put two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, but
Julia Apsel struck out the final Stony Brook batter to pick up the win.
Morse scored two runs against the Seawolves, and Giordano and Vaillancourt recorded two hits in the game. Apsel earned her second win of the season with three strikeouts against four hits, two walks, and one run in five innings of work.
Nikki Mullin got the start in the circle and pitched four innings with one strikeout.
Game #2: Hofstra 9, Stony Brook 1
Hofstra continued its early-inning scoring into the second game of the doubleheader with a sacrifice fly by Vaillancourt to bring home Collins in the top of the first inning, but the Seawolves evened the score in the second inning with an RBI single.
The Pride broke the game wide open with a seven-run fourth inning, making the score 8-1.
Gianna Iaquinto singled to right to bring home
Brianna Morse, putting Hofstra back in front. The Pride added to their lead with an
Alanna Morse RBI single, and Morse would score after a throwing error by Stony Brook's third baseman, making the score 3-1. Manto drove in Iaquinto to make it 4-1, and Collins brought home two for a 6-1 Hofstra lead.
Angelina Ioppolo singled to center to bring Collins home from second, and
Brianna Morse plated Ioppolo with an RBI single to make it an 8-1 game.
Hofstra increased its lead in the top of the seventh with a fielder's choice by Giordano, bringing home Manto from third to put the score at 9-1.
Collins, Giordano, Manto,
Alanna Morse, and
Brianna Morse all recorded two hits against the Seawolves, while Collins led the team with two runs batted in. Venturini pitched six innings and allowed one run and two hits while striking out 10 Stony Brook batters.
Annabella Pisapia pitched the final inning and allowed no runs and no hits.
Hofstra concludes its series against the Seawolves on Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m.
NOTES:
-The Pride improves its all-time record against Stony Brook to 18-7.
-Venturini's 10 strikeouts are the second-most strikeouts in a game for the sophomore, after she struck out 12 against Iona on March 20, 2022.
-Manto stole two bases across both games.
-Stony Brook was credited with four errors across both games.
