HOFSTRA, JAMES MADISON ADVANCE TO WINNER'S BRACKET

Hempstead, NY (May 8) Junior catcher Carolann Lubach (Langley, WA) added to her postseason heroics when she hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning to lead the Hofstra Softball team to a 3-1 win over Towson in the opening round of the Colonial Athletic Association championship on Thursday afternoon at Hofstra Softball Stadium.

The Pride will advance through to the winner's bracket game on Friday at 10 a.m. (weather permitting) against James Madison, which used a two-run homer in the seventh inning from second baseman Kaitlyn Wernsing to defeat Georgia State 2-1.

With the win, the Pride improves to 40-10, its third 40-win season in the last four years, while extending its current winning streak to 15 games. Towson, which falls to 36-25 with the loss, and Georgia State will play an elimination game at 12:30 p.m.

Lubach hit her fourth career postseason homer (out of seven total) in the bottom of the second to put Hofstra ahead 2-1. Junior left fielder Melissa Hodge (Hamilton, NJ) reached on a bunt single and one batter later, Lubach hit a fly ball down the left field line. Towson's Emily Gould went back to the wall and attempted to make an over-the-shoulder catch, but the ball tipped off her glove and went over the wall for a two-run homer.  

Hofstra fell behind 1-0 in the second inning as Gould homered down the left field line with two outs. That ended a scoreless streak of 42 innings for Hofstra starter Kayleigh Lotti (South Attleboro, MA), who hadn't allowed a run since a 15-2 win over Georgia State on April 13. It was also the first earned run allowed by the Hofstra pitching staff in the last 12 games, a span of 70 innings.

The Pride extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore first baseman Michele DePasquale (Waterford, NJ). Freshman third baseman Sara Michalowski (Philadelphia, PA) started the rally with a one-out double, and senior designated player Courtney Oliver (Swansea, MA) followed with a single to move pinch runner Genevieve Haney (Levittown, PA) to third.

Lotti pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts as she improved to 18-5 on the season, including 14-1 against CAA opponents. Hodge was 2-for-3 at the plate, the only player from either team with multiple hits. Shannon Johnston took the loss for Towson, falling to 18-13 on the year.

In the second opening round game, third-seeded James Madison posted a two-run homer from Wernsing in the seventh inning to defeat second-seeded Georgia State 2-1 in the second game of the CAA Softball Championship at Hofstra Stadium on Thursday.

James Madison extended its winning streak to 12 games and improved its record to 31-20, while Georgia State falls to 37-17 on the season.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Rachel Cunningham hit a solo home run to left field to help the Panthers to a 1-0 lead. Georgia State pitcher Alicia Mills and the Panthers held the Dukes scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, when junior catcher Julia Dominguez led off the inning with a single back up the middle. She was pinch run for by junior outfielder Megan Forbes. Forbes moved up to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore designated player Lauren Mernin. Wernsing then came to the plate and launched a ball deep over the left field fence to give JMU its only lead of the day.

Wernsing, who recorded her first career home run, led the Dukes by going 2-for-3, while Cunningham led the Panthers by also going 2-for-3.

James Madison starter Meredith Felts tossed a complete game and earned the win as she improved to 16-8 on the season. The junior gave up four hits, one earned run and struck out seven in the contest. Mills (14-5) threw a complete game for Georgia State giving up four runs and striking out five.  

2008 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Championship
May 8-10 - Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)

Thursday, May 8
12 p.m. - Hofstra 3, Towson 1
3:30 p.m. - James Madison 2, Georgia State 1

Friday, May 9
10 a.m. - #1 Hofstra (40-10) vs. #3 James Madison (31-20)
12:30 p.m. - #4 Towson (36-25) vs. #2 Georgia State (37-17) - elimination game
3 p.m. - Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner - elimination game

Saturday, May 10
12 p.m. - Championship Round
2 p.m. - Second Game (if necessary)