TOWSON, Md. – The Towson softball team opened Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play by splitting a doubleheader with Hofstra on Saturday afternoon, dropping game one 8-2 and winning game two 6-5 in extra innings.
Prior to the first game, Towson head coach
Lisa Costello was honored for reaching 600 career wins. She was presented with a framed jersey by Towson Athletic Director
Tim Leonard and members of the softball team. Costello reached the milestone with the Tigers 2-1 win over Rider on Febuary 27.
THE BASICSHofstra (14-12, 1-1 CAA) at Towson (20-6, 1-1 CAA)
Towson Softball Complex
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game One)- Hofstra got on the board early, scoring three runs in the third inning. Megan Patierno led off the inning with a home run to left center. The Pride used four singles and two stolen bases to score Brielle Pietrafesa and Chloe Fitzgerald.
- Towson responded with back-to-back homers to start off the fourth inning. Shelby Stracher smacked a leadoff home run to left field. Holiday Cahill followed with a home run to the same spot to pull the Tigers within one run.
- The Pride added three runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to secure the victory in the series opener. Brittany Allocca smashed a three-run homer to left field in the fifth followed by a two-run blast by Caryn Bailey in the sixth.
- Megan Dejter (8-4) gave up six runs on nine hits over 4.0 innings. Blakely Thrower came in for the final 3.0 innings, allowing two runs and two hits.
- The Prides' Jessica Peslack (9-5) earned the win after giving up two runs and two hits over 4.1 innings. Courtney Scarpato struck out one batter in the final 2.2.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game Two)- Towson's offense came alive early in the game, scoring three runs over the first three frames.
- Nicole Stockinger reached on an error in the second inning. She advanced to second on a fielder's choice before scoring from second on a Kendyl Scott single to right field.
- The Tigers showed their speed in the fourth inning. Bailey Boyd scored from first base after a double to center field by Brook Miko. An error by Bailey at center field allowed Miko to round the bases and score from second.
- Hofstra used an RBI single by Nikki Michalowski to drive in Pietrafesa in the fifth inning.
- Towson increased its lead with a two-run blast by Miko in the sixth inning.
- Ambar Hickman allowed just one run through the first six frames.
- The Pride's offense came alive in the top of the seventh as they tied up the game on four singles and a double.
- The game was sent into extra innings after the Tigers failed to score in the bottom of the seventh. Cahill attempted to score from second on a single by Miko with two outs but was thrown out at home plate by Bailey.
- Thrower who came in on relief action kept the Pride at bay with a three up, three down inning.
- The Tigers led off the bottom of the eighth with a double by Scott. A successful bunt by Olivia Yarbrough moved Scott to third where she would score on a wild pitch.
- Hickman allowed five runs on 11 hits in 6.2 innings. Thrower (5-1) earned the win after coming in for the final 1.1.
- Scarpato (1-3) gave up six runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings.
ON DECKThe Tigers and Pride conclude their series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
