Hofstra Pride
Overall Rank: #26
Conference Rank: # 1 CAA
Hofstra Team Page
The Hofstra Pride made school softball history in 2012 by winning their first ever NCAA Regional Championship to advance to the Super Regional before losing. The Pride finished the year 42-15 and were undefeated in conference play (19-0). A 1967 graduate of Northern Michigan, Bill Edwards has compiled a record of 848 wins, 391 losses and three ties since becoming head coach in 1990. He was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2009 and never has had a losing record at Hofstra. Hofstra finished the season ranked 16th in final softball poll. The Pride opens their season February 15-17 at the Florida State Invitational. The Pride will face 11 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tourney and three that advanced to the Super-Regionals this season. It is a competitive schedule to say the least before the Pride starts conference play. “We’re excited to get started against such great competition. These are nationally renowned programs that we will be facing and they really present a challenge. We know these games will get us ready for conference play,” said Edwards.
2012: 42-15, 19-0
2012 Postseason: NCAA Tournament
Coach: Bill Edwards
Field Players:
The Pride has a veteran team with six seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen. Hofstra graduated five players but returning is the team’s leading hitter, outfielder Rachael Senatore, who batted .364 in 2012 and stole 12 bases in 14 attempts. Olivia Galati trailed her in batting with a .345 average with Tessa Ziemba (.316), Becca Bigler (.309), Erin Trippi (.280) and Tori Rocha (.275) also returning. Catcher Courtney Crews (.990 fielding percentage) is expected to handle the catching duties in 2013. Also among the losses was the team’s third leading hitter a year ago, Krista Thorn (.289).
Pitchers:
Right-hander Olivia Galati has led the team the last three years and is again expected to again in 2013. She was named the school’s first softball All-American in 2012 after leading the NCAA in ERA (0.95) while compiling a 34-7 record with 378 strikeouts in 280.2 innings pitched. She also batted .345 with four homers and 37 RBI and is one of the nation’s top double threat players. She already is the school’s all-time strikeout leader with 1,108 and has 89 wins, which is second all-time, needing only eight wins to top the record of Stacy Jackson (1992-95) who had 96 wins. Freshman Victoria Cabral and Virginia Tech transfer Bella Corrao (3-1, 4.94 in 34 IP) complete the pitching staff.
Final Projection:
The Pride again will have an excellent team with veteran Galati leading the way and hoping to make her senior season the best of her four-year career. That would mean advancing to the Women’s College World Series, which would be a first for the school.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Rachael Senatorre, OF, 195
Hits: Rachael Senatore, OF, 71
Home Runs: Tessa Ziemba, OF, 11
RBIs: Tessa Ziemba, OF, 45
Runs: Rachael Senatore, OF, 38
Stolen Bases: Rachael Senatore, OF, 12
Wins: Olivia Galati, P, 34
Innings Pitched: Olivia Galati, P, 280.2
Strikeouts: Olivia Galati, P, 378
Saves: Olivia Galati, P, 3
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