The Hofstra University softball team clinched a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament spot with their 4-1 victory over Monmouth University on Friday, May 2. With the win, the Pride advance to 14-12 in CAA play, earning them the six seed in conference standings.
“It’s really exciting to get an opportunity to make it to the conference tournament,” said Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark. “Once you make it, anything goes, and that’s the most exciting part.”
The Pride locked up the final CAA tournament spot and will face the three seed on Wednesday, May 7.
Carley Ernst dealt a complete game against Monmouth, just allowing one earned run on four hits, striking out six batters. Ernst had an efficient outing, holding the Hawks to just 1-8 with runners on base. After a shaky second inning, Ernst settled in nicely, allowing just one hit across her final five innings of work.
“I was really proud of how [Ernst] adjusted as the game went on,” Clark said. “It was really impressive.”
Hofstra produced eight hits off Olivia Lewis and capitalized on Monmouth errors in the third, taking the lead. Mackenzie Fitzgerald had a strong game at the plate, with two doubles. Tyler Douglas produced her third hit in the series against Monmouth, lacing an RBI double to give the Pride an insurance run late in the game.
The Hawks took the early lead in the second inning, putting up their first and only run of the day. Ernst got the first two outs, and it looked as if she would get out of the inning unscathed, but Giana Scotti singled up the middle and put herself into scoring position, stealing second base on the next play. Kaitlynn Place laced a single up the middle, driving Scotti home.
The Pride put up an impressive third inning, manufacturing three runs on just one play. Lily Yepez slap singled and Chelsea Villar bunt singled, which allowed a speedy Yepez to take third. Alanna Morse rolled over to shortstop and Yepez came through with high IQ baserunning, forcing the throw home. Yepez got to the plate in time and a speedy Villar forced a mishandled ball at third. Villar took off for home and forced an overthrow at the plate, allowing both Villar and Morse to score.
“It’s really exciting to see them really grasping and understanding, reading and reacting to what they see and what the game is giving them,” Clark said. “I’m super proud. We’ve been working on getting them to do that all season. I just feel really confident right now in our abilities to take our game to the next level.”
Ernst retired seven batters in a row but allowed a fifth inning leadoff single to Scotti, the final hit that the Hawks would manufacture.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pride tacked on an insurance run. Cleanup hitter Dahlia Palacio singled up the middle and would come in to score on Douglas’ RBI double.
The Pride wrapped up regular season play on Senior Day against Monmouth on Saturday, May 2. The first pitch was scheduled for noon.
