Hempstead, NY – In a midweek non-conference game, the Hofstra softball team dropped a tough, thrilling 8-6 decision to visiting Army West Point on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon from Bill Edwards Stadium. Hofstra slips to 11-17 overall, and Army West Point moves to 11-20 overall after Wednesday's action.
 
Hofstra got off to a good start against the Black Knights with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the second inning. After Becca Vaillancourt laced a double to the left field wall and Gianna Iaquinto advanced Vaillancourt to third on a sacrifice bunt, Kayla Wilson hit a hard bouncer to the shortstop that allowed Vaillancourt to advance home from third for the 1-0 lead. The Pride nearly made it a 2-0 game on a Chelsea Manto single to right field, but Wilson was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning.
 
The Black Knights tied the game in the third inning on a throwing error to home by Angelina Ioppolo, and they took a 2-1 lead after an RBI single to center field. The Pride answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with a Brianna Morse single to right center, bringing home Kasey Collins to tie the game at 2-2. Hofstra retook the on a fielder's choice groundout to first by Vaillancourt, allowing Meghan Giordano to just beat the throw home for the go-ahead run.
 
After Army West Point evened the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning, the Black Knights scored four in the top of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead over the Pride. After a leadoff out to begin the bottom of the inning, Manto smacked a single up the middle and into centerfield, followed by a four-pitch walk to Collins, bringing Giordano back to the plate. On the first pitch of the at bat, Giordano drilled a home run to center field to bring the hosts to within one.
 
The Black Knights added a run in the top of the seventh inning on a bunt, making the score 8-6. The Pride battled back in the bottom of the seventh, with Olivia Malinowski and Alanna Morse both reaching base on singles, but Army West Point struck out the next two Hofstra batters to end the game.
 
Giordano drove in three runs on her eighth home run of the season, while Alanna Morse recorded three hits in four at-bats, and Manto recorded a hit in two of three trips to the plate. Julia Apsel picked up the loss for the Pride with five runs and three hits allowed against five strikeouts in 2.2 innings in the circle. Haley Venturini got the start and pitched 2.2 innings with three strikeouts against two runs allowed and five hits. Nikki Mullin also saw some action against the Black Knights, striking out one while allowing a run and a hit in 1.2 innings.
 
Hofstra travels to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard (9-16) on Thursday at 2 p.m. from the Nationals Youth Academy.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 17-5 all-time versus Army West Point.
-Giordano extended her hitting streak to six games.
-With two walks, Collins has now reached base safely in five consecutive games.
-Hofstra left eight runners on base to Army West Point's seven.