Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra softball team broke an 8-8 deadlock with three late runs in an 11-8 win over Saint Peter's in non-conference action from Bill Edwards Stadium.
Hofstra improves to 12-21 with the win, and Saint Peter's drops to 9-19 on the year following its fourth consecutive defeat.
An RBI double by
Anna Butler put the Pride on top after one inning, but the Peacocks evened the score at 1-1 with a solo home run by Angelina Wagner in the top of the second inning. The Pride bats exploded in the bottom of the inning, hanging five runs on the Peacocks to lead 6-1. Hofstra retook the lead on a double steal by
Chelsea Villar and
Dahlia Palacio, with Palacio taking advantage of the throw to cross home plate, while
Tyler Douglas singled home Villar to make it a 3-1 score, and Butler smacked her second double of the day to drive in Douglas all the way from first. With the bases loaded after
Mackenzie Fitzgerald reached base on a throwing error and a four-pitch walk to
Gemma D'Orazio,
Alanna Morse stepped up and singled through the gap to right field, plating Butler and Fitzgerald.
The teams each scored two runs in the third inning, with Saint Peter's scoring on a two-run home run by Tai Turner, while
Nicole Cancel swiped home on a double steal and Villar took advantage of a throwing error by the Saint Peter's catcher to round the bases on a throwout attempt, putting the score at 8-3 to the Pride. The Peacocks rattled off five runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 8-8, but the Pride answered right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs to lead 10-8. After Cancel drew a one-out walk,
Lily Yepez took advantage of the outfield's positioning to drop a triple behind the left fielder to score Cancel, and she crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Villar.
The Pride added an 11th run in the fifth on an RBI double by Morse, and
Carley Ernst kept Saint Peter's scoreless for the next two innings to seal the win.
Morse recorded three RBIs on two hits, while Butler delivered two RBIs on a pair of doubles, and Villar crossed home three times and picked up two hits. Fitzgerald also tallied two hits on the day, and Cancel and D'Orazio drew two walks each. Ernst picked up her fourth win of the season with two strikeouts in 3.1 innings from the circle. Butler started the game in the circle and pitched two innings, while
Emma Brennan made a relief appearance and struck out two batters in 1.2 innings.
The Pride returns to Bill Edwards Stadium for a crucial three-game series against defending CAA champions UNCW, beginning with a Friday doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 4-1 all-time against Saint Peter's. This was the first meeting between the two programs since 1996.
-Ernst has gone five consecutive games and 15 innings without allowing a run.
-Butler has recorded five extra-base hits in the last four games.
-Palacio has now gotten a hit in seven consecutive games, while D'Orazio and Morse have reached base safely in seven consecutive games.
