The Hofstra University softball team dropped their season opener against University of Louisiana at Monroe in a 6-3 game on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Pride took a trip south to Fort Myers, Florida, to compete in the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Eagle Invitational. This was the first of five games that the team played over the course of three days.
The Pride started with a 3-0 lead in the second inning thanks to Gemma D’Orazio, who homered down the left field line, and Alanna Morse, who led off the inning with a double, and Gabby Sultan, who singled to third base.
In the fourth inning, Hofstra loaded the bases with no outs when Morse and Ryleigh Smith drew walks. Sultan extended the inning by scoring a shallow single. Louisiana Monroe starter Maddie Nichols was relieved by Dakota Lake, who prevented the Pride from scoring after Hofstra’s Mackenzie Fitzgerald lined out and D’Orazio and Nicole Cancel both struck out.
Emma Falen recorded two quick outs for the Pride in the bottom of the fourth inning before giving up a double to her opponent, Maryssa Zenzen, and issuing a free pass to Morgan Brown. The Warhawks got on the board after a fielding error by Morse, scoring Zenzen from second base. Brown advanced to third but was left on base when Kailey Monsef grounded out too short.
Louisiana Monroe took the lead in the fifth inning when Cheyenne Jenkins entered the game as a pinch hitter and ripped a double down the left field line. Carys Platt signaled to put runners on the corners. Jenkins and Platt orchestrated a double steal to trim Hofstra’s lead to one run. Meagan Brown followed with a triple, scoring Platt and tying the game at three. Falen’s day ended when Hollie Thomas singled up the middle, scoring Meagan Brown. Emma Brennen came in to relieve Falen. Brennen escaped further damage after Smith threw Thomas out and tried to steal second base.
The Warhawks added insurance runs in the sixth inning. Morgan Brown and Elle Carter led off the inning with singles. The Pride made a pitching change, and Jillian Locher came in to relieve Brennen. Locher made her collegiate debut in the pitching circle by issuing walks to Monsef and Jenkins, which loaded the bases for Monroe. Platt hit a single run of her own to extend the lead to three.
Lake entered her fourth inning of work, looking to close the game and shut down the Pride. Victoria Frobosilo grounded out to first baseman Zenzen to open the inning. Pinch hitter Tyler Douglas singled to keep Hofstra alive for the team’s eighth hit of the game. Dahlia Palacio struck out, and Chelsea Villar flew out to end the game.
Lake recorded the win in the contest, going 4.0 innings and blanking the Pride on five hits, with five strikeouts and one walk.
Falen recorded the loss in the contest, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Pride looked to bounce back against Florida Gulf Coast on Friday, Feb. 13, as they continued their opening weekend at the FGCU Eagle Invitational.
