College Softball News

Hofstra Softball Surprises No. 20 Notre Dame

Hofstra Softball

Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics

Baton Rouge, La. – Freshman Brittany Allocca hit her first career home run to account for Hofstra’s entire offensive production and senior pitcher Taylor Pirone threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to help Hofstra defeat nationally ranked Notre Dame, 3-2, in the finale of the LSU Invitational on Sunday from Tiger Park.

Pirone did not allow a hit and struck out one to notch her first victory of the season. Hofstra improved to 2-3 in the five-game season-opening tournament. The Pride defeated a Notre Dame (5-3) team ranked 20th in the latest NFCA national poll, marking the second straight year Hofstra has defeated a top-25 team (Hofstra bested then No. 24-LSU at home last season). Hofstra is 4-6 against ranked opponents since 2013. The win is the first over a ranked opponent for first-year Head Coach Larissa Anderson.

All five runs were scored in the first, starting when Allocca went deep by pulling Katie Beriont’s 1-1 pitch to left-center for a two-out; three-run shot that staked Hofstra starter Morgan Lashley to a 3-0 lead.

Junior outfielder Caryn Bailey‘s leadoff single started the rally and sophomore infielder Lacey Clark walked ahead of Allocca, who earned the start at designated player and homered in her fifth career game. Allocca finished the five-game tournament with four RBIs.

Notre Dame stormed right back in the bottom of the first. A double, a single and a walk loaded the bases against Lashley, a senior who threw a six-inning no-hitter on Saturday in a win over Central Arkansas. Both Cassidy Whidden and Micaela Arizmendi were hit by pitches with the bases full to score the first two runs.

Lashley settled down and stranded three runners by retiring the following three batters in order on a fly out, a foul out and a fielder’s choice to preserve Hofstra’s 3-2 lead.

Following sophomore infielder Michaela Transue‘s leadoff walk in the second, right-hander Rachel Nasland relieved Beriont. Nasland threw six no-hit innings in relief while striking out six in the no-decision. Berinot took the loss and fell to 1-1. Pirone is 1-2.

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