The Hofstra Pride softball team returned to the diamond in game one of the 2023 NCAA Division 1 softball tournament. The Pride took on the No. 1 overall seed, the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. Hofstra entered at 29-25 overall and Oklahoma entered with an impressive 51-1 record.
The Sooners showed exactly why they are the top team in college softball, as Oklahoma dominated Hofstra from start to finish with an 11-0 shutout victory. Oklahoma’s high-powered offense and excellent pitching were once again the difference maker in avoiding the upset.
Eight different players recorded a hit for the Sooners, with catcher Kinzie Hansen leading the charge with three hits on the day. Hansen also had a team-high 4 RBIs and recorded two runs as well.
Oklahoma’s day started with a one-run first inning off the bat of Hayley Lee, who singled to second base to bring home Jayda Coleman. From there, the Sooners never looked back. The Sooners would see two players record home runs in the opening game of the tournament, the first by Grace Lyons in the second inning, and the other by Coleman in the fourth inning. The fourth inning was indeed the icing on the cake for the Sooners, as Oklahoma scored six runs in the inning before the game was ultimately decided after Hofstra’s turn at the top of the fifth inning.
Hofstra struggled all game long on offense, with the Pride not recording a hit until the top of the third inning from double to left field by Alanna Morse. That hit proved to be the only hit that Oklahoma would allow the rest of the way.
The Pride started Julia Apsel on the mound, throwing for two innings and giving up five hits with one strikeout. Hofstra went through the entire bullpen against Oklahoma, though Anna Butler was the only one to pitch a full inning, allowing three hits in her one inning of action.
“We have been averaging anywhere from 2-3 pitchers in a game,” said Hofstra head coach Adrienne Clark. “We set out this season when we started and even last season, of it’s going to take an entire staff to be able to have success, and we need to be able to rely on one another in during that, so for us it’s exactly what we’ve been doing all season.”
Oklahoma’s Nicole May continued her undefeated season, reaching 17-0 on the year with four innings pitched. May struck out five batters and allowed only one hit in the victory. Alex Storako came in for the fifth and final inning of play, striking out one batter.
Hofstra will look to regroup and turn their attention to the University of California Golden Bears on Saturday, May 20 in Norman. California is coming off a 5-1 loss to the University of Missouri Tigers, as both teams will be looking to keep their season alive and avoid elimination. The first pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN+ and WRHU (88.7 FM).
Photo Courtesy of Mark Doescher/Hofstra Athletics
