Hempstead, N.Y. – Freshman Maggie Hawkins drove in four runs and sophomore Erin Trippi went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lift Hofstra to a 9-4 victory over James Madison as the Pride posted a three-game series sweep over the Dukes on Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Softball Stadium.
Senior pitcher Olivia Galati struck out four in a complete-game effort and fellow senior Jess Hirschbuhl went 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored as Hofstra improved to 36-11 and 15-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play.
With the sweep, the Pride moved into sole possession of first place, moving a half-game ahead of James Madison (36-13, 15-3) who entered the weekend undefeated in league play before the Pride posted a pair of 1-0 victories on Saturday and capped the sweep thanks to three-run innings in both the second and third stanzas in the finale. Hofstra has won 18 of the last 19 games.
Galati improved to 31-10 after throwing every pitch for Hofstra in the series. The West Babylon, N.Y. native held the Dukes scoreless in 20-of-21 innings with the James Madison scoring four runs in the sixth inning after Hofstra had opened a 7-0 lead. JMU entered the week hitting a collective .322, though Galati limited the lineup to just nine total hits in the entire series after posting a one-hitter and a two-hitter on Saturday.
Hofstra opened the scoring in the second when Trippi walked and Hirschbuhl was hit in the helmet to put the first two runners on. Hirschbuhl would stay in the game and moved to second when JMU freshman Jailyn Ford walked Becca Bigler to load the bases.
After two low scoring contests, Hofstra was aggressive in trying to get the early lead in pinch-running Alyssa Cuzzola for Trippi at third. The move turned out to be moot as Hawkins worked a six-pitch walk to force in the opening run.
Caryn Bailey and Galati then hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to build a 3-0 edge. Ford (19-4), who entered the weekend with just two losses through her first career 21 decisions, was tagged with her second loss in two days after failing to get out of the third inning. The southpaw was pulled in favor of righty Heather Kiefer after hitting Ziemba and allowing a one-out double to Trippi.
The right-handed Kiefer entered with two runners in scoring position but couldn't stop Hofstra's momentum as Hirschbuhl lined a RBI single to center. Following a ground out, Hawkins hit a two-run single to center for the 6-0 advantage.
JMU allowed more than seven runs in a game for the first time since March 15 when the Dukes lost, 12-1, to Fordham.
Hofstra went ahead in the contest, 7-0, on Hawkins' run-scoring infield single that plated Trippi.
The Dukes made it interesting in the sixth, lining five hits. Ford, who stayed in the game at first base after being relieved in the circle, had a RBI single to left and Caitlin Sandy also notched a RBI on a hit to right that scored an additional run in a subsequent rundown between first and second that ended the inning after JMU made it 7-4.
Hofstra added two sixth-inning tack-on runs against the third JMU pitcher of the afternoon in Miranda Kemp. Trippi hit a two-run single up the middle to complete the scoring.
Both Hofstra and JMU have three-game remaining. Should the Pride hold the half-game lead, Hofstra would lock up the regular season championship and host the CAA Tournament that is scheduled for May 8-10. The Pride will end the regular season with a home doubleheader versus Towson on Friday at 2 p.m. and on Saturday with a noon start.
