The Hofstra University softball team earned its spot in the Coastal Athletic Association’s (CAA) Championship game with a 3-0 victory over Campbell University on Friday, May 8. The first-seeded Hofstra took down No. 3 Campbell, the only team to give the Pride a CAA series loss in regular-season play. The Pride eliminated the Fighting Camels from championship contention.
The Pride’s pitching staff was locked down. Freshman Madison Steppe got the start in the circle and earned her 13th win of the year. Steppe went four innings and allowed just two hits while walking three and fanning five. Emma Falen finished out the game, earning the save – Falen’s second save of her Hofstra career. Falen went three frames and allowed just two hits while striking out four hitters.
Hofstra’s offense was all Nicole Cancel. The junior second basemen went 2-2 with two RBI, including a solo shot in the third inning.
Kasey Wolfe started in the circle for the Camels. Wolfe allowed a leadoff knock to Alanna Morse and stranded the senior on the basepaths, retiring the next three Hofstra hitters with two strikeouts.
The Camels applied early pressure to Steppe in the second, but she remained calm with traffic on the basepaths. CAA Player of the Year Charlie Montgomery was brought aboard on a fielding error by Morse. Steppe dealt a walk to Kylie Specht, and the two baserunners combined for a double steal. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, it looked as if the Camels were going to take advantage, but Steppe shut them down. The rookie flamethrower tossed back-to-back strikeouts and forced a fly out to retire the Camels and keep it a scoreless game.
In the top of the third, Steppe worked in and out of trouble again. Haley Krebs drew a walk, and the next at-bat, Emma Slutzah, rolled over to shortstop. Morse made a play at second base that was originally deemed an out but was later overturned. Steppe worked with two on base and no outs, allowing a sacrifice bunt to Amber DeSena to put both runners in scoring position. Steppe struck out Allyiah Swiney and forced a flyout to Montgomery to retire the side.
Cancel broke the ice, ripping the first pitch she saw deep to center field in the bottom of the third inning.
It was the same story all day for Steppe, as she worked her final inning and got out of trouble once again. Steppe allowed two hits and a walk but stranded all three baserunners to keep Hofstra’s 1-0 lead intact.
Falen took over in the circle in the fifth inning after tossing seven innings the game before. Falen faced early struggles, allowing Swiney to single and Montgomery to walk. Falen retired two consecutive hitters to strand both baserunners.
Hofstra added onto their lead in the bottom of the frame. Lily Yepez singled to second base and swiped second. Kimmya Sims moved Yepez to third on a groundout, and Cancel brought home Yepez on a bunt single to extend Hofstra’s lead to 2-0.
The Pride put up another run in the bottom of the sixth. Dahlia Palacio led off the inning with a ground rule double and moved to third on Gabby Sultan’s sacrifice bunt. Chelsea Villar brought Palacio in to score on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Hofstra looked to secure an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament in a game against the College of Charleston on Saturday, May 9. The Cougars took down the first-seeded Pride in the second round, putting Hofstra in the losers’ bracket. First pitch was set for noon.
