For the first time since 2001, the Hofstra University softball team secured a 20-conference win with their 3-1 victory over Monmouth University on Friday, May 1. The 20th win of the season marked the first time the Pride eclipsed a 20-win conference slate since entering the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
“We had some great teams and so much success under Coach Bill Edwards, so hopefully he’s proud of us,” said Hofstra head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke. “I am definitely proud of the team and how they have responded.”
The Pride currently holds the top seed in the CAA ahead of the conference tournament. With a Campbell University loss or a Hofstra series sweep, the Pride can secure the CAA title.
Madison Steppe was superb in her 11th complete game in the circle. Steppe allowed just two hits and one earned run, while fanning four hitters.
“[Steppe] wasn’t at her best in the first few innings, but credit to her: she came around and got her changeup working, which was better for us,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “She was so resilient.”
The Pride reached double-digit hits off Carah Sumpter. Sumpter allowed three earned runs while striking out two Hofstra hitters. Sumpter stranded seven Hofstra base runners.
Hofstra broke the scoring in the bottom of the first frame, following Steppe’s three-up three-down top of the inning. Leadoff hitter Alanna Morse walked on four pitches. Dahlia Palacio knocked Morse in on her 18th two-bagger of the season. Palacio found the green in right-center field to give the Pride an early 1-0 advantage. With two outs, freshman Ryleigh Smith singled up the middle to score Palacio for the second run of the inning.
Mackenzie Bloss led off the top of the second frame with a ground-rule double that took a hop over the left field fence. Bloss then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Steppe retired the next two hitters, but Jayla Cadena came through with the second hit of the day with a knock to left field for the lone Monmouth run.
Steppe did not allow another run throughout the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Morse led off with a double to left-center on an 0-2 pitch. Gabby Sultan singled through the middle to put runners on the corners. However, Sumpter got out of trouble, stranding both base runners, forcing a flyout to Smith.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Pride added to their lead. Gemma D’Orazio took the first pitch of the inning yard, over the left field fence, to extend Hofstra’s lead to two runs. The long ball was D’Orazio’s sixth home run of the year.
Hofstra hosted the final game of the regular season, looking for the series sweep on Senior Day. First pitch was set for noon on Saturday, May 2, from Bill Edwards Stadium.
