Tampa, FL – Shortstop
Meghan Giordano drove in four runs on three hits and two home runs, including the game-winning run in the top of the sixth inning, to help lift the Hofstra to a 6-5 win over Yale in its final game of THE Spring Games at Madeira Beach rec Center in Tampa, Florida.
Hofstra moves to 5-10 with the win, its third straight and fourth win in five games. Meanwhile, Yale drops to 4-5.
Giordano put Hofstra ahead, 1-0 in the second inning with a one-out, solo home run to center field. Yale quickly countered in the bottom half of the inning with a lead-off home run, followed by an RBI triple in the third inning to lead 2-1.
With no outs in the top of the fourth, after
Becca Vaillancourt and
Olivia Malinowski both reached base, Giodrano added to her RBI tally with a double to left field, bringing home both pinch-runner
Madison McKevitt from second base to tie the game. Hofstra pulled in front with an RBI double by
Chelsea Manto, scoring Giordano and Malinowski.
The Bulldogs retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Yale scored on a fielder's choice play, and they took the lead on a two-RBI single up the middle with two outs left in the inning.
Hofstra's sixth-inning comeback started with a Malinowski double down the right field line. On the very next at bat, Giordano launched the ball over the wall in right-centerfield to bring herself and Malinowski around the bases and home for the late lead. Hofstra survived a seventh-inning comeback attempt by Yale, but the Bulldogs stranded a runner on third.
Manto finished the day with two hits and two RBIs, while Vaillancourt collected one hit.
Kayla Wilson drew the only Hofstra walk in the game, and both Wilson and Manto recorded one stolen base each.
Nikki Mullin earned her third win of the season with one strikeout against two hits and one unearned run in one inning of work, and
Julia Apsel pitched the final 1.2 innings in relief to earn the save with one strikeout.
Haley Venturini started the day in the circle for the Pride, and she struck out four against five hits, four total runs, and one walk.
Hofstra opens its home schedule with a three-game series against Boston College (10-7) on March 11-12. The Pride hosts the Eagles in a doubleheader on March 11 at noon and 2:30 p.m., before playing at noon on Sunday from Bill Edwards Stadium.
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 10-2 all-time against Yale.
-This was the third multi-home run game of Giordano's career, and the first since hitting two against Holy Cross on March 17, 2019.
-Hofstra finishes 4-1 at THE Spring Games, its best record at the competition.
