The Hofstra University softball team’s historic season under first-year head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke came to an end in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship Game against No.5 College of Charleston with a 5-0 loss. The Pride ended the campaign with a 31-23 record.
Emma Falen started in the circle for the final time in her collegiate career. Through 4.1 innings pitched, she allowed four runs on six hits.
Mackenzie Mathis was spectacular from the start for Charleston. Mathis pitched a complete game shutout and added 13 strikeouts, striking out the side in the first inning.
Charleston opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out rally, scoring two runs on two hits. Bronwyn Conroy took a 1-0 pitch towards Dahlia Palacio for a leadoff single and swiped second base. Austy Miller worked a walk and orchestrated a double steal, advancing runners to second and third. Falen issued her third walk in the inning, as Halle Cannon reached on a full count. With two outs, Audri Bates snuck a ball through the infield to score Conroy and Austy.
In the second inning, the Cougars tacked on another run to extend their lead to three. Karlee Hughes began the inning with a single through the infield. An error from Nicole Cancel allowed Julia Sitterding to reach base. Conroy advanced runners to second and third following a groundout to Cancel. Leela Langston lifted a ball to Lily Yepez to score Hughes.
The Pride threatened to score in the third inning, placing runners on first and second with two outs. Cancel worked a walk and Alanna Morse followed with a single. After a mound visit, Palacio struck out to end the inning.
The game remained scoreless until Charleston scored two more runs in the fifth inning to seal the game. Langston became the fourth leadoff hitter to reach base for the Cougars, as she doubled to left-center to begin the inning. Cannon scored Langston from second with a single of her own. With two outs, Bates singled for her third hit of the game, scoring Cannon for the fifth run of the game.
The Pride looked to fight back in the seventh inning. Mathis shut down the Pride’s offense, as Mackenzie Fitzgerald popped up, Gemma D’Orazio grounded out and Yepez struck out looking to end the game.
The 2026 Hofstra team finished the season with 92 doubles, the second-most in a season in program history. Palacio ended the season with 19 doubles, tied for the third-most in program history.
Following their performances, Cancel, Falen and Yepez were named to the CAA All-Tournament Team.
