Stony Brook, NY – For the second game in as many days,
Haley Venturini dominated the opposition from the pitching circle to earn the Hofstra softball team a 4-1 win over Stony Brook in the first series of Colonial Athletic Association action.
Hofstra moves to 8-13 overall and 3-0 in the CAA. Stony Brook falls to 8-13 overall and 0-6 in league play.
After a scoreless two innings, Hofstra drew first blood in the top of the third inning with a sacrifice fly to left field by
Angelina Ioppolo, scoring
Kasey Collins from third for the 1-0 lead. Following another two scoreless innings, the Pride added to its lead.
Becca Vaillancourt led off the inning with a single, followed by a single by
Brianna Morse. With Morse and pinch runner
Amanda Maffucci sitting on second and third respectively,
Alanna Morse slapped a single through the infield and into center field, allowing Morse and Maffucci to cross home plate and make the score 3-0.
Hofstra added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning off the bat of Vaillancourt. Collins led off the inning with a single to center, and she advanced all the way to third base on consecutive fielder's choice plays. Vaillancourt sent a single to right center, and Collins crossed home plate to put Hofstra's lead at 4-0. Stony Brook finally broke through with a two-out home run in the bottom of the seventh, and they placed two Seawolves on the base paths, but Venturini finished her complete game by forcing a fly out to
Kayla Wilson in left field.
Collins and Vaillancourt had two hits each, and Collins totaled two runs and one walk. Venturini went the distance while picking up her third win of the season, pitching all seven innings and allowing just one run, five hits, and one walk while striking out seven Stony Brook batters.
Hofstra travels down to Virginia on Tuesday, March 21, for a 5 p.m. non-conference game against Virginia (18-9).
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 19-7 all-time against Stony Brook.
-The Pride finished with nine hits in today's game, and allowed only five hits for Stony Brook.
-Hofstra has won its conference opening series for the second consecutive season.
