The Hofstra University softball team won the final game of their three-game series against the North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T) Aggies 6-3 on Sunday, April 7. With this win, the Pride improved to 13-17 overall and 11-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association. NC A&T fell to 8-26 overall and 2-13 in the CAA.
For the second straight weekend, Hofstra swept their CAA series, improving the team’s winning streak to six straight games.
“The confidence is really great,” said Hofstra softball head coach Adrienne Clark. “We are continuing to build with each game, learn different things, and while we’re still making some mistakes here and there, we’re learning and growing from them. As long as we keep that mindset, I think we’ll continue to build.”
The Pride was ripping softballs all over the yard, but most of them were at Aggie defenders. In the sixth inning, Hofstra managed to cash in on some hard-to-hit balls. The Pride led 2-0 going into the sixth, and with runners on second and third, Alanna Morse hit a single to score Kayla Wilson and Nicole Cancel.
With a 4-0 lead and Morse on second, Chelsea Manto tripled to center field, scoring Morse and giving Hofstra a commanding 5-0 lead. Becca Vaillancourt then grounded out to NC A&T’s Makayla Layton at shortstop, but Manto came around to score and give the Pride a 6-0 lead.
“Anytime the ball comes off the bat well, and we just miss it, it means that we’re right there,” Clark said. “I didn’t want the approach to change at all, I just wanted them to stick with the process and know that it will eventually fall.”
Julia Apsel recorded her seventh consecutive start in this game and tossed six shutout innings, allowed three hits and one walk while fanning 10 batters for the second start in a row. Apsel struck out 20 NC A&T batters in just about 24 hours.
“[Apsel] has done just an incredible job of making some little adjustments, prioritizing the weight room, getting excited about being strong and having stamina,” Clark said. “I think that the work that she’s done and put in over the offseason and in the weight room is a direct indicator of why she’s able to kind of come out and have back-to-back performances the way that she did.”
Some Hofstra hitters that have either struggled all season or have struggled over the last few weeks broke out on Sunday afternoon. Morse, Gianna Iaquinto and Wilson all had multi-hit games. Morse went two-for-three at the dish, adding two runs scored and two RBI.
“[Morse] did phenomenal,” Clark said. “I think the coolest part is when you start to see athletes stay within themselves and stay calm and patient. What stood out to me about [Morse]’s at-bats the most is that she was in her legs and was using her body to hit. Anytime she does that, she has success. She looks so confident, calm and patient up there that it’s really impressive when you start to see those adjustments being made.”
Wilson was a perfect two-for-two in the afternoon, as she added one run scored and one RBI.
Iaquinto went two-for-three and raised her batting average to .107. It was .040 entering the game.
“One of the things Coach [Kristyn] Sandberg had talked to [Iaquinto] about was being aggressive early at hittable pitches, and I think when [Iaquinto] does that, and she did that today, really good things happen,” Clark said.
The Pride is back in action on Wednesday, April 9, as they head to Brooklyn to take on Long Island University. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
