The Hofstra University softball team earned a dominating 16-0 victory over Drexel University in five innings to open the first game of their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series against the Dragons on Friday, March 27. The Pride improved to 14-14 overall and 9-1 in league play following their fourth consecutive conference win.
The Pride scored 12 runs on 10 hits in the first two innings, as Chelsea Villar and Dahlia Palacio cleared the wall with their second home runs of the year. Hofstra finished the game with 15 hits, the most the team has had in a game since April 5, 2025.
Hofstra head coach Susan Cassidy-Lyke reflected on the performance of the team after the 15-hit eruption.
“We got to look for the pitches,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “We want to hit the pitches that we can hit. We don’t want to get into what they want to do to us.”
Madison Steppe continued her dominant season in the circle, pitching her seventh complete game in her 12th start for the Pride. She accumulated four strikeouts on one hit across five shutout innings. For Steppe, being comfortable in the circle has been key to her dominance throughout the season.
“She has confidence,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “You just got to go out and do your thing.”
The Pride erupted for five runs on five hits in the first inning, with Alanna Morse kickstarting the offense with a leadoff single. Palacio recorded her ninth double of the season, placing her fifth in the CAA in doubles, as she placed runners on second and third. Gabby Sultan scored the first run of the game with an RBI groundout. Villar sent a ball over the center field wall to extend the lead to three. With two outs, Victoria Frobosilo cleared the bases with a two RBI double to center field.
In the second inning, the Pride entered run-rule territory, scoring seven runs to increase their lead to twelve. Morse picked up her second hit of the game, leading off the inning with a double. Palacio homered to center field for her second hit of the game. The next three batters loaded the bases after Sultan was hit by a pitch, Villar doubled and Gemma D’Orazio walked. A wild pitch from Natalie Alldred scored Sultan, extending the lead to eight. Mackenzie Fitzgerald snuck a ball through the left side of the infield to clear the bases. The Pride batted around in the inning, as Morse and Frobosilo walked to place their ninth runner in scoring position. A bloop hit from Palacio scored Fitzgerald and Frobosilo, marking the seventh run of the inning.
The Pride added another run in the third inning on an RBI single from Fitzgerald, scoring Morse, who singled to start the inning, moving to second base on a sacrifice bunt from D’Orazio and to third base after Nicole Cancel grounded out.
Hofstra tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning for their 16th run of the game, the most the team has scored since April 17, 2018, against Wagner College. With one out, Morse homered on a full count to add to the lead. After back-to-back singles from Palacio and Sultan and a walk to Villar, the Pride loaded the bases for the third time. Emily Jovel lifted a ball to center field to score Palacio. Sultan scored on a wild pitch to seal the scoring for the Pride.
With the Pride rolling through CAA play so far this season, Cassidy-Lyke explained what she instills in this team as they advance through the season.
“It’s so important for us to make sure we’re on the top of our north division,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “These are big games. Every game is big, even our midweek games.”
The four-hit performance from Palacio set a new career high, while her four RBIs tied a career high. Morse recorded her 12th multi-hit game of the season, ranking her seventh in the CAA in hits with 37, and seventh in batting average, slashing .398.
The Pride continued CAA play against Drexel on Saturday, March 28. First pitch from Farmingdale State College Softball Complex was scheduled for 2 p.m.
