BROOKLYN, N.Y. (March 16, 2024) – The Stonehill College softball team dropped its first two Northeast Conference games of the season against Long Island University at the LIU Softball Complex Saturday afternoon.
GAME 1 – LIU 4 (13-11, 1-0 NEC), Stonehill 0 (3-9, 0-1 NEC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Long Island scored in the first inning after a leadoff single and a walk put a runner in scoring position setting up Emma Niece who ripped a single into center field to put the Sharks up 1-0.
Freshman Alexa Hospodar (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) gave up another three runs in the third inning, all with two outs, as the Sharks rattled off three singles to go along with two walks drawn.
After the third, Hospodar was nearly perfect, tossing three scoreless innings to finish with a complete game.
The Skyhawk bats never got going as Stonehill dropped its NEC opener, 4-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- This was Hospodar's third career start, already appearing in eight of the first 12 games this season for the Skyhawks. She is now 0-2 with one save under her belt.
- Sophomore Natalie Bottiglieri (Massapequa, N.Y.) recorded the lone hit for the Skyhawks as LIU's starter pitching, Lindsey Cowans, threw a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts.
GAME 2 – LIU 5 (14-11, 2-0 NEC), Stonehill 0 (3-10, 0-2 NEC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
LIU opened the scoring in the second game of the day, exploding for five runs in the second inning after tallying six hits including two doubles in the inning.
After the second, junior Skylar Brandemarte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) pitched four consecutive scoreless frames for the Skyhawks.
Stonehill finished the game scoreless, falling 5-0 as the Sharks swept the doubleheader.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Brandemarte falls to 2-3 on the year, giving up a season-high five runs as she made her fifth start of the season. In five starts, Brandemarte has thrown four complete games.
- LIU's Alyssa O'Donnell pitched the second complete game shutout of the day for the Sharks, all three hits while recording three strikeouts.
- Bottiglieri reached base twice on two walks, also swiping her team-high third stolen base of the season.
UP NEXT
Stonehill softball concludes its three-game weekend set with Long Island University tomorrow afternoon at the LIU Softball Complex at noon.
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