Hofstra softball thriving again

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Legendary Hofstra softball head coach Bill Edwards lost one of the all-time great pitchers to graduation, but his Pride have been just fine in the early going of 2014.

In Hofstra’s first season since 2009 without ace pitcher Olivia Galati, the Pride raced out to a 9-1 start out of the gate. Galati completed a four-year career in the circle last season that saw her set every major pitching record in program history while leading Hofstra to within a game of the College World Series as a junior and program mark of 46 wins in 2013.

A major reason for Hofstra’s hot beginning is the pitching of Army transfer Morgan Lashley, who began the season 6-0 with five complete games and three shutouts. Another pitching transfer, Taylor Pirone from Fordham, is also excelling on the mound for the Pride starting 3-1 with a 1.27 earned-run- average through her first five appearances. “We have gotten tremendous pitching from our two transfers,” said Edwards, who won his 900th career game on Feb. 28 with a 6-2 victory at Florida Gulf Coast University. “These two pitchers really worked hard in the offseason.”

Helping to manage Hofstra’s new pitching staff is junior catcher Erin Trippi, who can also produce at the plate coming off a .315 average and 5 home runs in 2013. “She is handling a whole new staff,” said Edwards of Trippi, who has earned All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors her first two years with Hofstra. “She is doing a great job.”

Key hitters back in Hofstra’s lineup for 2014 are fifth-year seniors Rachael Senatore (center field) and Becca Bigler (shortstop). Bigler was second on the Pride with 12 home runs in 2013 while Senatore hit .364 as a junior in 2012 before missing last season due to injury.

“[Senatore and Bigler] are so well respected by everyone on the team,” said Edwards. “The chemistry has come together because of those two.”

Another senior bringing experience to the Pride lineup is second baseman Tori Rocha, a two-time CAA All-Second team selection who batted .285 last season. Other important offensive players for Hofstra in 2014 are Kim Smith (third base), sophomores Caryn Bailey (right field), Maggie Hawkins ( first base, pitcher) and Chloe Fitzgerald (left field). Through 10 games Hofstra was hitting .362 as a team.

“Everyone at this point is swinging at pretty good pitches,” said Edwards. “We have to command the strike zone.”

Since Edwards took over the Hofstra program in 1989, his teams have traditionally been one of the top fielding teams in the country. Through 10 games, the Pride’s fielding percentage was a near perfect .981. Hofstra ranked 16th nationally in team fielding last year. “We work on fundamentals with fielding all the time,” said Edwards. “Pitching and defense wins championships.”

Two Pride players who grew up just down the road from the Hofstra campus are senior outfielder Ashley Ainbinder (Baldwin) and freshman catcher Christie Sinacori (Wantagh). Ainbinder was a three-time all-conference selection at Baldwin High School and appeared in 21 games for Hofstra last season. Sinacori hit .420 her senior season at Wantagh High School last year.

Hofstra was picked to win the CAA title in a vote by preseason coaches followed by James Madison, College of Charleston and Delaware. The Pride are seeking their third straight conference title and 15th in 17 years, which would deliver an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Home slate highlighted by LSU DH
Hofstra opens its home schedule with the Hofstra Invitational from March 14-16 featuring home games against Georgetown, Columbia, Fairfield and Hartford.

Hofstra’s 23-game home schedule is highlighted by a doubleheader on April 16 against national power LSU starting at 4 p.m.

“We’re totally excited having them
here with hope that everyone who is a softball fan can come out and enjoy a doubleheader between two tremendous teams,” said Edwards. “It’s great for softball in
the northeast.”