Courtesy: Hofstra Athletic Communications Sara Michalowski's homer in the seventh proved to the difference
Columbus, GA - Junior third baseman Sara Michalowski (Philadelphia, PA) homered in the top of the seventh inning to give the Hofstra Softball team a 1-0 win over Kent State on Saturday afternoon at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. No. 22 Florida State, though, handed the Pride its first loss with an 8-0 win in five innings in the second game of the day.
Hofstra improved to 8-0 on the year after the Kent State win, including 6-0 in one-run games, marking the best start for the program since the 1994 team started out the season 9-0. However, Florida State prevented the Pride from matching that standard by defeating Hofstra in the second game. Kent State fell to 1-7 on the year with the loss, while No. 22 Florida State improved to 14-2 with the win.
Michalowski broke the scoreless tie against Kent State in the seventh with her second homer of the season, the first hit for Hofstra off of starter Kylie Reynolds (senior left fielder Christie Novatin added a single later in the inning). Sophomore pitcher Erin Wade (Taunton, MA) retired Kent State in the bottom of the seventh to get the shutout and improve to 3-0 in the circle on the year, scattering seven hits.
Senior center fielder Kris Root (Waynesboro, PA) had the big defensive play of the day in the bottom of the sixth, when she threw out the potential go-ahead run at the plate to end the inning, keeping the score 0-0 and setting up Michalowski's heroics. Junior shortstop Trisha Dreslinski (Kingsville, OH) also had a key defensive player in the seventh, catching a Kent State runner off second on a ground ball.
The Pride fell in the second game as freshman pitcher Olivia Galati (West Babylon, NY) struggled in the circle for the first time after starting out the season a perfect 4-0 by allowing one run allowed in each of her first four games. She surrendered a run in the first inning, which was set up by her own fielding miscue. In the third, she allowed a leadoff homer to Carly Wynn, then suffered another fielding error in the circle, which opened the door to a six-run inning as the Seminoles pulled away.
Sarah Hamilton threw a no-hitter with three walks to get the win for Florida State and improve to 7-1 in the circle.
Courtesy: Hofstra Athletic Communications