Almost half of the Delaware Softball Stadium’s 500 seats were filled on a sunny windy Easter Sunday. Hofstra fans, who made up half the attendance, travelled from Long Island to see if the Pride could extend their 16-game winning streak against the Hens dating back to 2006.

Hofstra left with its 17th win in a row finishing off a three-game sweep of the Hens Sunday with a 9-0 victory in five innings. The loss drops the Hens to seventh place in the eight-team CAA and puts their hopes of reaching the CAA Tournament for the second straight year in jeopardy.

“We have to keep focused on our positives and know that the door is not closed yet,” head coach Jamie Wohlbach said.

Delaware was held in check by Hofstra pitcher Olivia Galati, who did not allow a base runner until the bottom of the fourth Sunday.

The Hens’ Alicea Coy ended Galati’s bid for a perfect game on a soaring line drive double into the right centerfield gap. The hit energized the crowd and the Delaware bench, but Galati then struck out the Hens big hitters, Lara Andrews and Michelle McKinnon. Andrews, who leads the team with 18 RBIs, did not record a hit this weekend.

Galati dominated Delaware most of the weekend. She started game one of the doubleheader Saturday. On the weekend, she pitched 12 innings and gave up three hits, no walks, no runs and struck out 21 batters.

“Galati is a good pitcher. She is not only recognized in the conference or just regionally, but she is nationally recognized as a very good and talented pitcher,” Jaime Wohlbach said. “I thought we approached her very well. We were a little bit more aggressive on offense.”

Chenxi Jiao started on the mound for Delaware Sunday. She also pitched the first game of the doubleheader Saturday.

She pitched seven innings Saturday, gave up one earned run and struck out nine batters, but the Hens failed to score off Galati and lost 3-0. Jiao did not pitch as soundly on Sunday, lasting 3 2/3 innings and giving up nine hits and five runs.

Jiao left the game at 5-0 in the top of the fourth and was relieved by junior Hannah Rust. It was an early exit for Jiao who pitched so well on Saturday.

“They were getting on her a little bit, and for us, we know how sharp she can be and sometimes when you change it up and try and use your staff, it can keep the hitters off balance,” Wohlbach said.

Wohlbach’s strategy failed against Hofstra’s hot bats. Rust is much taller than Jiao and throws a different style, but the Pride still managed five hits for four runs off her.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Hens. They travel to James Madison next weekend to play the second place team in the CAA. The Dukes are 8-1 in conference. Before to the weekend trip Delaware has a doubleheader away at Rider Wednesday.