May 11/18
Posted May 11, 2018
Sophomore Sarah Cornell was named the Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year, while the Pride had eight total student-athletes honored by the conference – the most of any team in the league – the CAA announced Tuesday afternoon.
Cornell continued to dominate in the circle in her sophomore campaign, leading the conference with 225 strikeouts in the regular season. The mark ranks eighth in Hofstra history, while her career total of 354 already ranks seventh on the program charts in just her second season. The Westbury, New York, native also leads the CAA in shutouts with eight and ranks second in wins with 22. Carrying a 2.24 ERA into the CAA Championship this week, Cornell recorded double-digit strikeouts on seven occasions this season. In non-conference play, she pitched 8.1 innings of scoreless ball against then-No. 13 Florida State. She allowed just one hit in complete games against Kennesaw State, UNCW and Drexel, and held opposing batters to just a .190 average this season.
Freshman Sophie Dandola was named to the CAA second team, while Dandola also earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
In the circle, Dandola has had an impressive debut campaign, leading the CAA with five saves and ranking second with a 1.71 ERA. The Seaford, New York, native finished the regular season with a 15-5 record, including picking up the win over then-No. 13 Florida State and allowing just one run to No. 2 Oregon. In 123 innings of work, she allowed just 17 extra-base hits and 24 walks, holding opponents to a .215 batting average.
Senior Brittany Allocca was also named to the CAA second team.
Allocca has rewritten the Hofstra record books this season, setting the career and single-season marks for walks, now with 123 and 38, respectively. The Stormville, New York, native also has 12 home runs on the season, which is tied for eighth all-time, while her 35 career homers rank fourth in Hofstra history, and her 140 career RBIs are seventh. She hit a grand slam at James Madison and pit a pair of home runs in the series finale at Elon, going 3-for-3 on the day. She also went 3-for-3 with a home run at Delaware. In CAA play, she has batted .410 with nine home runs for a .934 slugging percentage and .532 on-base percentage. At first base, she boasts an impressive .997 fielding percentage