Greensboro, NC – Hofstra softball pitcher Haley Venturini came an out away from a perfect game, but the sophomore still came away with a commanding performance from the pitching circle as the Pride cruised to an 8-0 win over North Carolina A&T from Lady Aggies Softball Complex in Colonial Athletic Association action.
 
Originally scheduled to be the first of a Saturday doubleheader, inclement weather forced the series schedule to be shifted around. The Pride and Aggies will meet on Sunday for a doubleheader, beginning at noon and 2:30 p.m.
 
The Pride moves to 13-17 overall and 6-1 in the CAA, and North Carolina A&T slips to 6-23 overall and 1-6 in league play.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Pride loaded the bases in the top of the third inning with three straight singles to the outfield by Alanna Morse, Chelsea Manto, and Kasey Collins. Facing an 0-2 count with no outs, Meghan Giordano slammed the next pitch over the right field wall for a bases-clearing grand slam, the first of Giordano's career and her 10th home run of the season, to give the Pride a 4-0 lead. Angelina Ioppolo made it 5-0 Hofstra with a fielder's choice RBI towards the end of the inning, putting the Pride ahead 5-0 after three innings as Venturini kept the Aggies hitless.
 
Venturini and the Hofstra defense continued to keep an Aggie batter from reaching base, with Venturini striking out 10 batters through the first six innings of work. The Pride added a run in the top of the sixth inning on a Brianna Morse single to left center, scoring Collins from second and upping Hofstra's lead to six runs. The Pride plated another two in the top of the seventh on a two-RBI double by Giordano, giving Venturini an 8-0 cushion going into the final inning. After forcing the leadoff hitter into a ground out and the next batter to strike out looking, the bid for a perfect game came to an end with a single to right by Aggie batter Dezianna Patmon. Venturini struck out the final batter to earn the complete game, shutout win.
 
Giordano drove in six runs on two hits for the Pride, while Ioppolo got three hits in five at bats, and Collins drew two walks to go with two hits. Venturini tied a career-high for strikeouts in a game with 12, and picked up the seventh complete game win of her career.
 
NOTES:
-The was the first-ever meeting between Hofstra and North Carolina A&T on the softball diamond.
-Giordano has hit a home run in five consecutive games and extends her hitting streak to eight games.
-Collins has now reached base in seven consecutive games.