The Hofstra University softball team beat Monmouth University 6-2 on Friday, March 13, to begin a three-game set against the Hawks. The Pride improved to 8-11 overall and 4-0 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play.
Madison Steppe was phenomenal once again, pitching her fourth complete game of the season. Steppe dominated the Hawks through seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out three.
The Pride took care of business against Monmouth’s pitching staff, recording 12 hits and blasting two home runs off the bats of Nicole Cancel and Dahlia Palacio.
Hofstra drew first blood in the top of the second inning, when Cancel crushed a 2-2 pitch from Alissa Eimont to deep center field, taking a 1-0 lead.
After Steppe held the Hawks hitless through her first two innings of work, she walked Monmouth’s Kaitlynn Place and fell behind Dominique Lopez 2-0. Lopez rocked an RBI triple to tie the game up at one apiece.
Hofstra continued to add points to the score. The Pride were set up in the fourth inning with two runners on base. Cancel worked a two-out walk and moved to third with help from a passed ball and a base hit by Gemma D’Orazio. Lily Yepez stepped in and drove Cancel home on an RBI single.
The power stroke struck again for the Pride in the following inning, when Palacio led off the fifth frame with a round-tripper to right field.
The Pride kept their foot on the gas in the sixth inning. Victoria Frobosilo got the rally started with a leadoff double, followed by Cancel’s second hit of the afternoon – a single that advanced Frobosilo to third. Yepez dug in once again with runners and drove two home runs on a single and an error from the Hawks centerfielder. Errors continued to be a problem for Monmouth, as Yepez later scored on an error when Alanna Morse hit a ball out to shortstop.
The Hawks tried to claw back into the game late, cashing in on an RBI groundout in the seventh inning. Steppe shut the door on the rally and the game, getting Kylee McLain to fly out weakly to right field.
The Pride continued CAA play against Monmouth on Saturday, March 14. First pitch was scheduled for noon.
