Jackson Township, NJ – The Hofstra softball team suffered a pair of defeats to Bucknell in a Friday doubleheader as part of the FDU Classic from Adventure Crossing in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Hofstra dropped game one, 5-4, before suffering a 4-0 defeat in game two to the Bison.
 
Hofstra's record now stands at 1-4, while Bucknell is 4-5.
 
Game One: Bucknell 5, Hofstra 4
 
The Pride jumped out to an early, multi-run lead when Olivia Malinowski slapped a single to center field with the bases loaded, scoring Chelsea Manto and Lily Yepez to make it 2-0 Hofstra in the first inning. The Pride added a third run in the bottom of the second inning when Yepez scored Manto from second base on a single to center, making it 3-0 to the designated home team.
 
Bucknell cut the lead to one with two runs in the top of the fourth, but Hofstra made it a two-run difference with a run in the bottom half of the inning; after Kayla Wilson led off the inning with a triple, a throwing error on the shortstop after a Manto single allowed Wilson to make it 4-2 Hofstra. The Bison evened the score with a two-run sixth inning, and Bucknell pulled ahead with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Hofstra was held scoreless in their turn at bat.
 
Manto went 2-3 at the plate and scored twice, while Yepez went 2-3 with an RBI and a walk drawn. Malinowski lead the Pride with two RBI against Bucknell, and Dahlia Palacio went 1-1 in a pinch hit situation.
 
Annabella Pisapia nearly went the distance against the Bison, going 6.2 innings with six strikeouts, while Haley Venturini pitched the final out of the inning and allowed the final two runs.
 
Shea Malone went 2-3 with an RBI for Bucknell. Hunter Vestal got the win with four innings pitched after Savannah Jones pitched the first three innings of the game.
 
Game Two: Bucknell 4, Hofstra 0
 
Bucknell began the second game with a two-run single in the opening inning, before adding another two runs in the fifth inning. Aliya Catanzarita, Becca Vaillancourt, and Chelsea Villar all notched hits for the Pride, while Catanzarita drew two walks. Marisa Ogden struck out a pair of Bucknell batters in 4.1 inning start, and Haley Venturini pitched the final 1.2 innings of the contest.
 
Madison Roukey pitched the full seven innings for Bucknell, and Savannah Jones delivered three RBI on a 1-3 performance.
 
Hofstra will return to action again on Sunday, February 26, against the Bison and FDU. Hofstra squares off against Bucknell at 1:15 p.m. before facing FDU at 3:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Chelsea Manto stole two bases in today's doubleheader, giving her 78 for her career. She is now five stolen bases away from passing Kristin Hallam (83, 2017-21) for the most stolen bases in program history.
-Lily Yepez is now 3-3 on stolen base attempts this season.
-Hofstra is now 2-7 all-time against Bucknell.