The Hofstra University softball team continued their dominant start to Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play with a 9-1 blowout victory against Monmouth University on Saturday, March 14. The Pride improved to a perfect 5-0 in conference play and 9-11 overall.

Ryleigh Smith propelled Hofstra in the contest, belting her first collegiate home run in the third inning and another in the fourth. Emma Falen went the distance in the circle, surrendering seven hits, allowing one earned run and striking out three hitters. 

For Monmouth, Carah Sumpter struggled in the circle, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and two strikeouts through 3.2 innings pitched. Isabella Bonacci entered the game in relief but allowed four earned runs and three hits.

In the first inning, the Hawks put a runner in scoring position who failed to score. To lead off the inning, Dominique Lopez singled on a 2-1 pitch to shortstop Alanna Morse. Lopez advanced to second after Kylee McLain laid down a sacrifice bunt to the third base side. Falen worked through the rest of the inning in just five pitches, forcing Ella Stevinson to pop out and Mackenzie Bloss to ground out. 

The game remained scoreless until Ryleigh Smith lifted a ball over the right center wall for her first collegiate home run. Lily Yepez followed with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error by Bloss. Morse tacked on another run for the Pride with an RBI single to score Yepez. 

The Pride offense continued to dominate, adding four runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Chelsea Villar kick-started the offense with her fourth double of the season. Fitzgerald placed runners on the corners with a single but was erased at second after leaving first base too early. Nicole Cancel singled to Sumpter and swiped second, stealing her third base of the season. A wild pitch brought Villar home, which increased Hofstra’s lead to three. Smith cleared the bases with her second home run of the game. 

Monmouth answered with a run in the fifth inning to trim the deficit to four. Tessa Thompson entered the game as a pinch hitter and walked to start the inning. Liv Smith singled to place runners on first and second with no outs. McLain ripped a ball to left center, which scored the first run for the Hawks. 

In the seventh inning, the Pride added four insurance runs on three hits to increase the lead to eight. Gemma D’Orazio singled to left field and advanced to second on a passed ball by Bonacci. Ryleigh Smith walked on four pitches, reaching base for the third time in the contest. Yepez scored D’Orazio on an RBI single up the middle. With two outs, Villar cleared the bases with a double down the right field line. 

Falen worked into trouble when the first two batters for Monmouth reached base via singles in the bottom of the seventh inning. As Falen threw her 96th pitch of the game, McLain grounded into a double play to end the game. 

Hofstra recorded eleven hits in the game to extend their streak to three straight games with double-digit hits. Villar contributed with three hits, while Ryleigh Smith and Yepez added two each. 

The Pride looked to sweep Monmouth on Sunday, March 15. First pitch from Cougar Field was scheduled for noon.