Hofstra University Athletics

HOFSTRA HOSTS HOME OPENERS THIS WEEKEND

3/18/2010 1:21:00 PM

Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Softball team, which is off to a 10-3 start against tough competition, makes its home debut this weekend as it hosts the Hofstra Invitational.

Saturday's play will feature Hofstra against Boston University at 10 a.m. and Connecticut at 12:30 p.m. (B.U. and UConn will then play at 3 p.m.). Sunday's games will feature B.U. against UConn at 10 a.m., Hofstra against B.U. at 12:30 p.m., and Hofstra against Connecticut at 3 p.m.

Hofstra has a very successful start to its season, as it has six wins already against teams from BCS conferences, while all three of its losses have come to nationally ranked teams, including an extra-inning loss to current No. 4 Michigan on Saturday. The Pride has wins over North Carolina State, Michigan State, South Florida, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Louisville already, as well as a win over 2009 Super Regional qualifier North Dakota State.

The Pride is ranked 23rd in the latest Ultimate College Softball poll released on Tuesday, the third straight week in which it has been ranked. Hofstra debuted in the poll two weeks ago at No. 25 after starting the year 9-1, and moved up one spot to 24th last week, and one more spot to 23rd this week. Hofstra is also receiving eight votes apiece in both the NFCA/USA Today poll (ranking the Pride tied for 30th) and eight votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll (ranking the Pride 31st).

The Pride's two starting pitchers have engaged in an impressive battle of "can you top this?" in the opening weeks of the 2010 season. Freshman Olivia Galati (West Babylon, NY) was named the CAA Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 23 after tallying a perfect 3-0 record at the USF/La Quinta Invitational. One week later, sophomore Erin Wade (Taunton, MA) earned the CAA Pitcher of the Week honor after going 3-0 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, with a win over Virginia Tech and a 1-0 victory over Kent State.

After the team was idle during the third week of the regular season, Galati came back last weekend with another strong performance and earned her second Pitcher of the Week honor of the year. Galati now has a 5-2 record with a 1.84 ERA, to go along with wins over North Carolina State, Michigan State, South Florida, Mississippi State and Louisville (her two losses also came to nationally ranked Florida State and Michigan). Wade has a 4-1 record and a 2.60 ERA, with her only loss to Michigan.

After completing the Hofstra Invitational, the Pride will have two mid-week tune-ups at St. John's on Wednesday and home against LIU on Thursday before opening Colonial Athletic Association play at Delaware next Saturday and Sunday.

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