Softball Falls to Iona and Hofstra at the Hofstra Invitational

(Iona boxscore) / (Hofstra boxscore)

3/25/05 -- Jessie DePippo (Westlake Village, Calif.) rapped three hits in the first game and fellow sophomore Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.) had two in the second contest for Long Island, which suffered a 10-1 loss to Iona and a 5-1 setback to the host school at the Hofstra Invitational in Hempstead, N.Y.

Against Iona, the Blackbirds jumped to a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Sophomore Randi Gillespie (Saratoga, Calif.) lined a double to left-center field and DePippo followed with a run-scoring double to right center.

The Gaels (8-6) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before adding five in the sixth on Laura Stott’s three-run homer for a 7-1 lead.

Senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) gave up 10 runs -- six earned -- and 13 hits over seven innings with four strikeouts. Freshman Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.) collected two hits for LIU, which left 12 runners on base.

Alison Higgs struck out five and surrendered four hits over four scoreless relief innings for the Gaels.

The Blackbirds (3-18) against Hofstra got themselves out of some huge jams, turning double plays to end the second and third innings. In the third, senior Chelsea Crosby (Reno, Nev.) induced Courtney Oliver to ground into a double play during an inning which the Pride (14-10) had the bases loaded with none out.

LIU forged a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth when Gillespie singled, stole second and scored on Erwin’s single to right. The lead stayed that way at the end of the frame as Hofstra left the based loaded.

But the Pride used a two-out rally in the fifth to grab the lead, capped when Hailey Clark belted a three-run homer to center field for a 4-1 contest. They added another run in the sixth on Ashley Lane’s single to left.

Crosby gave the Blackbirds a strong outing with two strikeouts and no walks, despite allowing five runs and 14 hits over six innings.

Callie Osborne yielded one run and four hits over seven innings with two strikeouts and three walks for Hofstra.

LIU on Saturday will continue play in the tournament against Iona at 9:30 am and Hofstra at 11:30 am.