Hempstead, NY – In a Friday doubleheader featuring two of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Association, the Hofstra softball team split the day with visiting Elon. The Phoenix won game one, 8-3, before the Pride took the second game by 12-9.
Hofstra sees its record stand at 19-23 overall and 11-6 in the CAA following today's doubleheader, and Elon is now 18-22 overall and 11-5 in league play.
Game #1: Elon 8, Hofstra 3
Chelsea Manto legged out a triple in her first at bat of the contest, and she scored the Pride's opening run on a wild pitch from Elon pitcher McKenna McCard in the first inning to put the hosts in front, 1-0. Elon pulled ahead with a three-run third inning to take a 3-1 lead over the Pride, and the Phoenix added to their lead by plating five runs in the top of the fifth to pull away and lead by seven against the hosts.
After being held scoreless since the first inning, Hofstra battled back in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs on a passed ball and an RBI single to center field by
Anna Butler, but the Pride ran out f outs before game one concluded.
Angelina Ioppolo recorded two hits in four trips to the plate.
Julia Apsel was credited with the loss after pitching four inning and giving up six runs against five strikeouts, while
Anna Butler pitched three inning in relief.
Game #2: Hofstra 12, Elon 9
Elon opened the first inning of the second game with a five-run inning, putting the Phoenix ahead 5-0. Hofstra responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning, as
Meghan Giordano drove a 3-2 pitch well over the left field wall for a three-run home run, bringing home
Kasey Collins and Manto to cut into Elon's early lead. The Hofstra offense continued to produce in the inning, with
Madison McKevitt driving home
Alanna Morse with an RBI single into the outfield to make it a one-run game, followed by an RBI by
Kayla Wilson on an Elon throwing error to even the score at 5-5. The Pride took advantage of another Elon error to plate the go-ahead run, putting the score at 6-5 when the inning finally ended for the Phoenix.
Hofstra's lead extended to 7-5 thanks to an RBI single by Morse in the second inning, and the Pride further added to their lead in the fifth inning with a hit-by-pitch of Ioppolo with the bases loaded and an RBI on an Elon fielding error, giving Hofstra a four-run advantage. Elon closed the gap with a three-run sixth inning to put the score at 9-8 Hofstra, but Hofstra put the game out of reach for the Phoenix in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a pinch hit, two-run double by
Aliya Catanzarita to make the score 11-8 Hofstra, and Ioppolo drove in her second run of the contest with a fielder's choice out at third to put the Pride's lead at four runs. Elon's Chloe Hatzopoulos delivered a one-out, solo home run in the top of the seventh to bring the visitors within three, but they wouldn't get any closer as
Nikki Mullin struck out the next two Elon batters to take game two.
Manto went 3-5 at the plate, while Collins, Morse, and McKevitt all tallied two hits, and Giordano led the way with three RBIs and three walks.
Nikki Mullin pitched 6.2 innings of relief and picked up her fifth win of the season with four strikeouts against four runs and seven hits allowed.
The Pride and the Phoenix conclude the three-game series on Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m. from Bill Edwards Stadium.
NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record against Elon now stands at 13-7.
-Collins stole two bases in game two against Elon, giving her seven games with multiple stolen bases for her career.
-This is Giordano's fifth game with three or more walks, and it's her first three-walk game since February 16, 2020 against Drake.
-Giordano's 13th home run of the season moves her into a four-way tie for the seventh-most home runs in a season in Hofstra softball history.
-Manto has now reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.
