The Hofstra University softball team defeated Stony Brook University 2-1 to begin Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play in the Susan Cassidy-Lyke era. The Pride used a two-run fourth inning to seal the victory. Hofstra improved to 4-10 overall on the season and are 1-0 in CAA play.
Madison Steppe was phenomenal in the circle, pitching her third complete game in her fifth collegiate start. Steppe shut down the Seawolves through seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out seven.
“She’s very composed when she’s on the mound, especially for a freshman. It’s very impressive,” said Hofstra head coach Cassidy-Lyke. “We feel confident when she’s out there and so does the whole entire team. So, she’s been doing a good job.”
The Pride had 11 hits, marking the second time in three games that the team recorded double-digit hits. The 7-8-9 hitters for Hofstra all had multi-hit games, as Alanna Morse had the game’s only RBIs.
Cassidy-Lyke reflected on the impact the Pride can have on a game when their pitching and hitting are clicking.
“We came back out of Virginia last week and we had to hit really well,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “We feel like if we can do both those things defensively and offensively, we definitely can be a tough opponent for everybody.”
The Seawolves struck first in the opening frame with one run on two hits and two walks. Elena Gonzalez led off the inning with a bloop single over the head of a diving Gabby Sultan. Steppe lost Rachael Brown on four pitches to put runners on first and second. Ella Hayes followed with a single to right center on the first pitch of the at-bat to score Malorie Hill. Naiah Ackerman worked a walk to load the bases. Steppe regrouped after a mound visit, striking out Marissa Thalassinos to end the inning.
Hofstra threatened to score in the bottom half of the first. On a full count, Morse led off the inning with a single up the middle. Dahlia Palacio advanced the runner with an infield push bunt to Brown. Sultan placed runners on first and second after an infield single to third basemen Karri Pritchard. Mackenzie Fitzgerald roped a ball into shallow left field, but Hayes made a running grab to end the inning.
Steppe retired the next six of the seven batters she faced through the second and third innings, getting three Seawolves to strike out swinging.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning, as Nicole Cancel drilled a 2-0 pitch off the right field wall for a leadoff double. Gemma D’Orazio snuck a ball through the third base side on the first pitch of the at-bat to place runners on the corners. D’Orazio swiped second and later scored after Morse cleared the bases with a single under a diving Gonzalez.
Steppe came out to pitch the seventh inning to close out the game. She opened the inning with a strikeout to Pritchard. The Seawolves threatened after Emma Scheitinger singled, and Gonzalez was plunked with two outs. On her 113th pitch, Steppe got Hill to swing at a pitch outside of the zone to end the game.
The Pride continued CAA play against Stony Brook on Saturday, March 7. First pitch from Farmingdale State Softball Field was scheduled for 3 p.m.
