The Hofstra University softball team beat the Monmouth University Hawks 5-3 on Sunday, March 24, avoiding a three-game sweep. The Pride improved to 7-16 overall and 5-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association. The Hawks are now 12-18 overall and 5-3 in the CAA, following the series victory.
Monmouth had a couple big innings to start off the game as they scored three runs across the third and fourth innings. Mackenzie Bloss singled to left field, scoring Dani Dabroski from third to even the score at 1-1. Bri Lawson later grounded out to Julia Apsel, but recorded an RBI as Savannah Simons came around to score and give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Abby Warner extended the team’s lead to 3-1, with a leadoff home run to left field.
Hofstra exploded in the fifth inning with three runs. It all started with an RBI single to right center by Olivia Malinowski. Chelsea Manto came around to score, as it was first and third with one out in the inning. A wild pitch and a walk from Aliya Catanzarita loaded the bases for Gianna Iaquinto.
Iaquinto laced a single up the middle into center field as Malinowski and Catanzarita crossed home plate, giving the Pride a 4-3 lead.
Hofstra added an insurance run in the top half of the seventh, as Gabriella Sultan knocked in Mackenzie Fitzgerald on an RBI single to center field, extending the Pride’s lead to 5-3.
While Hofstra was successful with runners in scoring position in the fifth, they left 10 runners on base over the course of the afternoon. The Pride accumulated 11 hits, as Becca Vaillancourt and Malinowski both recorded multi-hit days at the plate.
Apsel earned her sixth win of the season in a day where she surrendered three runs on eight hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while fanning five batters. This was Apsel’s seventh complete game of the season, which is already a career high for her in a single season.
The Pride has leaned heavily on Apsel, as she has recorded six of the team’s seven victories. Her ERA on the season is 1.57 and she has struck out 46 batters in 67 innings of work.
The Pride are back in action on Tuesday, March 26, as they face off against the University of Missouri Tigers. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
