New era begins for Hofstra softball

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Following the retirement of legendary Hofstra softball coach Bill Edwards, the Pride has ushered in a new era with a familiar face.

Longtime assistant coach Larissa Anderson has taken over for Edwards, who won 928 games from 1990-2014, including 22 NCAA Tournament victories. Anderson was an instrumental part of Hofstra’s success serving the previous 13 years as an assistant including the past 10 as associate head coach.
“Bill has really prepared me for this moment,” said Anderson, who remains in daily communication with the college softball coaching legend. “When I’m coaching a game he’s in my presence.”

Anderson inherited a team with seven players who appeared in at least 30 games during a 2014 season that saw Hofstra go 34-15 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.  It marked Hofstra’s fifth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.

Among the returnees are senior pitchers Morgan Lashley and Taylor Pirone, who combined to start 48 of 49 games. Lashley, who transferred to Hofstra from Army, went 17-5 with 161 strikeouts and 18 complete-games last season. Pirone, a Fordham transfer, notched three shutouts and tossed 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings in an NCAA Tournament win against Bryant.

“You have a wealth of experience with them in the circle,” said Anderson of her two starting pitchers, who both have different specialty pitches. “They are great complements to each other.”

Sophomore Jessica Peslak is adding depth to the pitching circle after a strong fall season. The Livingston, N.J. native recorded three strikeouts in her first three appearances this season.

Helping manage the Pride pitching staff is senior catcher Erin Trippi, who threw out 11-of-23 potential base stealers. On offense, the Lyndhurst, N.J. native hit .313 with eight home runs. “She has been a starter since she was a freshman so she knows that it takes,” said Anderson of Tripp. “She brings consistency.”

Hofstra also returns Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) batting champion Chloe Fitzgerald, who hit .370 as the Pride’s everyday left fielder. She also led the CAA in stolen bases with 19 during her sophomore campaign. “She is a table-setter,” Anderson said. “She gets herself on base anyway she can.”

Other key bats back in 2015 are junior Kim Smith and Caryn Bailey, who both were 2014 CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award recipients. Smith batted .327 and smashed 14 doubles while Bailey recorded 11 multi-hit games with seven home runs.

Sophomore infielders Lacey Clark and Michelle Transue also provide the Pride some offensive punch. Clark was a second-team All-CAA selection after hitting .280 in 30 starts and Transue smacked a grand slam in Hofstra’s 9-3 win against Iowa on Feb. 21.
“They are only sophomores but they have so much experience,” said Anderson of Clark and Transue.

Hofstra’s goal of reaching its fourth straight NCAA Tournament is already getting contributions from several freshmen. Brittany Allocca hit a three-run homer in Hofstra’s 3-2 upset of then 20th-ranked Notre Dame on Feb. 15 and right fielder Brielle Pietrafesa delivered a game-winning hit in a 4-3 victory against McNeese State.

Hofstra’s recent success has helped bring in some of the top softball players from around the country. The Pride’s roster includes five states with the one Long Islander being sophomore infielder Christine Sinacori, who was a standout at Wantagh High School.

Hofstra was picked third in the CAA preseason poll behind defending champion James Madison and College of Charleston. The winner of the CAA Tournament from May 6-8 gets an automatic NCAA Tournament bid, but a challenging non-conference schedule could position the Pride for another at-large selection.

After playing in warmer weather down south the first month of the season, Hofstra opens its home schedule March 18 with a doubleheader against Dartmouth staring at 3 p.m. before hosting back-to back Big Ten teams on March 24-25 with Northwestern and Rutgers, respectively. Hofstra’s first home CAA three-game series kicks off on March 28 versus Towson at 2 p.m. The Pride’s schedule is also highlighted with non-conference games against rival Stony Brook on April 16 at 4 p.m. and a doubleheader with Syracuse on April 21 at 3 p.m.