The softball team played Hofstra in a rare midweek, single-game matchup on Tuesday afternoon in its last chance to tune up before the bulk of the Ivy League season. Pitcher Olivia Galati, recently crowned Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week, led the Pride to a 6-2 victory over the Tigers (6-22 overall, 0-4 Ivy).
The loss was Princeton’s 10th straight, while Hofstra (22-6) has now won eight of its past nine. It was the teams’ first meeting since 2001.
Coming off tough weekend losses against Harvard and Dartmouth and facing a strong opponent in Hofstra, the Tigers focused on their chemistry.
“We had a lot more organized cheering and a lot more energy in the dugout,” senior first baseman Jamie Lettire said. “I think everyone was much more involved today and it was a much more fun, focused day. We played the way softball should be played.”
“We played well as a team and had a lot of energy, so it was a good day,” freshman pitcher Alex Peyton said.
Hofstra seized an early lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Michele DePasquale, and the Pride then added three more runs in a four-hit third inning to go up 4-0. Galati contributed to her own run support with a two-run RBI double.
Princeton had trouble getting its bats going, finally breaking up Galati’s no-hit bid with a single by senior outfielder Kelsey Quist in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored their only two runs of the game in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run by freshman outfielder Lizzy Pierce, the first of her career.
Galati picked up her 14th win of the season, but the homer broke up her streak of 24 consecutive shutout innings. She gave up four hits in five innings of work and struck out the Tigers eight times.
“She was a good pitcher. She had good movement and hit her spots, but I think we could have definitely hit her towards the end,” Peyton said.
The Pride brought in pitcher Erin Wade in relief to earn a two-inning save.
Princeton had a runner on third and the tying run on first base with two outs later in the fifth inning, but the Tigers were unable to bring either player home.
Pride outfielder Tessa Ziemba tacked on a two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend Hofstra’s lead to 6-2.
Freshman pitcher Liza Kuhn’s record dropped to 3-6 after throwing a complete game in the circle for Princeton.
The team will go on its first Ivy League road trip this season with a doubleheader at Brown on Friday and another twin bill against Yale on Saturday.
“Brown’s going to be very important this weekend, and we hope it’ll help us get some Ivy wins,” Peyton said.
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