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Kaylee Roche

As the Hofstra University softball team swept Stony Brook University in the battle of Long Island on Sunday, March 8, Madison Steppe pitched her second complete game of the opening Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series. The third consecutive 2-1 victory moved the Pride to 6-10 overall and 3-0 in CAA play while the Seawolves sit at 1-15 on the season and 0-3 in league play.

Steppe had another phenomenal performance for the Pride, allowing one run on one hit, striking out six Seawolves. She pitched to contact, allowing eleven fly balls and holding hitters to 0-7 in the leadoff spot. 

Chelsea Villar and Gabby Sultan recorded an RBI apiece, while Mackenzie Fitzgerald added two hits and a stolen base. Jayci Finch started in the circle for the Seawolves for the second time in the series. Through six innings of work, she allowed two runs on six hits, striking out three hitters. 

With two outs to start the first inning, the Pride strung together two-out hits to score the game’s first run. On a full count, Sultan smacked a double to right center, advancing to third on a single by Fitzgerald. Villar brought home Sultan on the first pitch of the at-bat with a single to left field. After a circle visit, Finch got Victoria Frobosilo to ground out to end the inning. 

The Pride doubled their lead in the third inning. Alanna Morse led off the inning with her third collegiate triple. Sultan recorded her eighth RBI of the season with a groundout to Elena Gonzalez. Fitzgerald ripped an 0-2 pitch to center field and swiped second for her second collegiate stolen base. Finch worked out of further trouble, as Villar grounded out to second. 

After allowing a baserunner in the second inning via hit-by-pitch, Steppe retired nine straight Stony Brook hitters until Malorie Hill sent a ball over the left field fence in the fifth inning to trim the Hofstra lead to one. 

The Pride had an opportunity to answer in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Dahlia Palacio sent a 1-1 pitch to left field for her fifth double of the season. Sultan walked to place runners on first and second. The inning ended after Sultan was thrown out at second as Fitzgerald reached first on a fielder’s choice hit up the middle. 

Steppe entered the circle in the seventh and recorded a 1-2-3 inning, retiring her eighth straight batter, as Ashlyn Burgess grounded out to Morse to end the game. 

In all three games, Hofstra head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke and Stony Brook head coach Megan T. Bryant did not use their bullpen. 

Throughout the series, the Pride outhit Stony Brook 21-8, including nine hits with two-outs. The Pride currently hold an all-time record of 27-14 against the Seawolves and 11-6 against Stony Brook as CAA rivals since 2023. 

The Pride will head to Fairfield, Connecticut, to kick off a doubleheader against Sacred Heart University on Wednesday, March 13. First pitch from Pioneer Park is scheduled for 2 p.m.