COLUMBIA, S.C. — UNCG softball’s (46-13) season came to an end in the South Carolina NCAA Regional with a 6-0 loss to the Hofstra Pride (41-13) on Saturday at Carolina Softball Stadium. The Pride’s Sophie Dandola threw a perfect game with four strikeouts.
“I’m really proud of this group of seniors and this collective group of athletes,” said UNCG head coach Janelle Breneman. “‘Team 33’ had an amazing season and set the tone for the next coming years. They have just accomplished so much. It’s not easy to get to [NCAA] Regionals. I just couldn’t be prouder of this group and how hard they worked and selfless they were. What an amazing legacy this team leaves, and the future is very bright at UNCG.”
Hofstra scored its first three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Following a leadoff infield single, an error put runners on the corners. A double to right center knocked in both runners. The third run came on a sac fly to left field.
The Pride added another run in the fifth inning, scoring a run off the fourth UNCG error of the game.
The last two runs came in the seventh inning. After a bases-loaded walk with two outs, a single through the left side produced the final run.
Alicia Bazonski started her 121 game of her career, passing Winn Hazlegrove (92-95) for most starts in program history. Bazonski allowed four earned runs, six hits and four walks with four strikeouts in her 16th complete game of the season.
“We had a freshman leftfielder (Makenna Matthijs) start for us all year and come up big for us, and we’ve had freshmen come off the bench to help us,” said Breneman. “So, for these four freshmen to experience high level play, it is going to push them to prepare harder. I know those four are excited about this opportunity, and they’ll grow from this and be able to tell rookies next year about this experience, which is a really cool thing. You know we have a lot of talent, and we graduate seven. But we have a really strong class coming in, and we have a lot of sophomores and juniors out on the field, so I am really looking forward to the future.”
