Hofstra set to prove it's not soft

BY STEVEN MARCUS | steven.marcus@newsday.com

May 15, 2008

Special on Hofstra's Girl's Softball Players as They Enter NCAA Regional Tournament.

Hofstra's Courtney Oliver takes batting practice as the Pride prepare for the NCAA regionals. (Photo by Patrick McCarthy / May 15, 2008)

Hofstra's softball team has no inferiority complex, though coach Bill Edwards admits most everyone outside the program believes schools in the Northeast cannot compare with the elite names in the sport.

A huge opportunity to dispel that notion comes this weekend in the NCAA Tournament when two-time defending national champion Arizona joins the four-team field at Hofstra in the Hempstead Regional.

Play begins Friday with Arizona (36-16) facing Canisius (38-12) at noon and Hofstra (43-11) opposing LIU (34-15) at 2:30. The double-elimination regional continues through Sunday.

Edwards believes Hofstra, which set a school record for wins, can compete in any conference in the country. The Pride's resume over the years has included victories over No. I UCLA and highly ranked Auburn, Nebraska and Stanford. This is Hofstra's 11th NCAA appearance and sixth straight.

"The Pac-10 doesn't intimidate us and I don't think Arizona will either," Edwards said.

Hofstra is fifth in Division I in pitching (1.08 ERA) and fourth in defense (. 980). LIU is something of a mirror image with outstanding pitching (1.31 ERA) and defense (. 974). "This is a tough regional," Edwards said, "but there is parity across softball and there is no reason why Canisius, LIU or Hofstra can't come out of here a winner."

Ninth-ranked Arizona is expected to be the toughest obstacle. Taryne Mowatt (24-12, 1.80 ERA) is the reason for the Wildcats' consecutive national titles.

"She has been there, done that," Edwards said. "Nothing is going to intimidate her. This is her time. She has probably the best changeup in the game. I watched her on video and when she threw that changeup I nearly hurt my back." Hofstra will go with Kayleigh Lotti (21-5, 1.22 ERA), the program's all-time strikeout leader with 725.

Arizona's Laine Roth, Jenae Leles and Stacie Chambers have totaled 43 of Arizona's nation-leading 82 homers. By comparison, Hofstra has 15, LIU 12 and Canisius 11. "Keeping them in the park, that is the key," Edwards said.

Hofstra's game is speed. It stole 75 bases, 26 by Kris Root and 24 by Casey Fee.

Hofstra is not without its own offensive weapons. First baseman Michele DePasquale is batting .378 and is on a 25-game hitting streak. Courtney Oliver has four homers and 40 RBIs, while catcher Carolann Lubach has 31.

Regardless of Arizona's reputation, Hofstra is ready. "I have a feeling we can pull this upset off," Oliver said. "First we have to get past LIU, that is going to be a big task. But I think if we play our game they [Arizona] will have to put up a fight to get past us."