Hofstra softball 2023

[stuball888]

After starting 0-4 we face Morgan State today.
good news is the bats are coming alive
we lead 4-1 going to the bottom of the second
Chris Manto with an inside the park home run.

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and just like that we give up 2 runs in the bottom of the second
after 2 Hofstra 4 Morgan State 3

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after 3 Hofstra 6 Morgan State 3

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we tack on another run so after 3 and a half 7-3 Hofstra

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Morgan State scores 2 in the bottom of the 4th
7-5 Hofstra

[stuball888]

we still are not pitching well. This game is far from over

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we lead 7-6 after 5

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Morgan State 7 Hofstra 7
bottom of the 6th two on no outs for Morgan State
this looks bad

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tied at 7
looks bad for us

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its now 9-7 Morgan state
we commit 2 errors on one play that allows two runs to score

[triplec2195]

Real sloppy play in the bottom of the 6th we're now down 9-7 going into the last inning. Sad. Julia Apsel not pitching well in her three outings so far. She couldn't get out of the 4th giving up 5 runs on 7 hits. Not sure if she is rehabbing but missed the second half of the year last year and all of her freshman season. Brennan gives up 4 runs after coming in for Apsel. Only 2 of those runs were earned. We're down to our last out and the game is over. We lose 9-7 now 0-5. Deja-vu of last year!!

[stuball888]

its still early but this team has many flaws that need to be addressed

[Polito]

Going to give Clark the benefit of the doubt - only year 2 for her, and the program has been dealt a lot of change to try and find its footing after Edwards. Anderson was building on the strong tradition in her way with a super 2018 season, and then left for Mizzou after just 4 years. Miller was next and frankly a bit of a disappointment IMO, expected better. And only 3 years.

Gaps to be addressed now with this team and program as Clark sets her foundation, but I am hopeful. Need her to stay put for a few years, recruit, develop, and get this program back to the level where it should be.

[stuball888]

always said you give a coach 5 years then you can judge the coaches performance

[triplec2195]

Just a bit of perspective regarding Morgan State and their softball team. They play in the MEAC conference and went 31-15 last year with a competitive schedule. Also was 18-3 in their conference and played in the championship series and lost to Howard. They had quite a few games scheduled against CAA teams but some were cancelled. I looked this up because I was curious as to who we were losing to. I don't want to accept losing but feel a little better now knowing we are playing a competitive school. This year they have beaten Elon and NC A&T. Also lost to Houston twice and Washington once.

[triplec2195]

We lost the first game of a doubleheader to Lipscomb today 3-1. Julia Apsel who hasn't pitched well as yet this year took the loss giving up 3 runs 2 earned in just two innings. Freshman Emma Brennan came in and pitched 4 scoreless innings giving up 4 hits with 2K's. We had 5 hits and our only rbi came of the bat of Giordano in the 6th inning. We're now 0-7 and playing Georgia right now. HELP!!

[Polito]

Stu, my local softball go-to, do we have any bats on this team? I know pitching takes time at HU's level, but give us some hope.

[stuball888]

Only Giordano has power all others are either slap hitters or punch and judy hitters. We actually may need 4 hits to score a run or the other team to make errors. 9 games in 10 runs scored and 3 Hrs. Giordano with 2 and Manto with an inside the park variety. If not for the 7 runs scored against Morgan State in a 9-7 loss this team would have 3 runs in 8 games
that said its still early but I dont see us finishing third. I see us in the bottom half of the conference

[triplec2195]

0-10 last year after losing to Indiana and got shut out 6X in the 1st ten games. Eerily similar to last year but won our 11th game vs Louisville. This team is pretty much the same team we had last year that played well in the CAA. Much too early to come to any conclusions where we will be once we get into league play but we need to get the bats going. I've been to a lot of games and while it's true we do have punch n Judy hitters we also have some kids that can drive the ball. Fingers crossed for the bats to come alive.

[triplec2195]

Winning right now 4-1 against California Baptist. We're in the top of the 5th they're batting. Brennan in for Mullin who pitched well.