The Hofstra University softball team stayed alive in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship with a dominant 6-1 victory over No. 2 UNC-Wilmington on Friday, May 8.
Emma Falen tossed a complete game, earning her 14th victory in the circle this season. Falen allowed just one run on seven hits, striking out three hitters. With the win, Falen improved her CAA ERA to just 1.16.
Gemma D’Orazio cashed in for two RBIs on a home run, and Alanna Morse went 2-4 with two RBIs. For the Seahawks, Ava Brookshire brought across the lone run.
Falen retired the first seven hitters she faced before giving up a hit to Emily Whitwell. Falen got in trouble, putting runners on the corners. But thanks to their heads-up defense, the Pride caught Whitwell attempting to take home to retire the side and got out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the third frame, Hofstra capitalized on a Seahawks miscue to take the lead. Mackenzie Fitzgerald was brought aboard on a fielding error by right fielder Becca Merrick and took second on the misplay. Then, Nicole Cancel laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Fitzgerald to third. Morse ripped a 0-1 pitch off Lynsie Herman to give Hofstra a one-run advantage.
The Seahawks knotted things up in the fifth inning. Averie Daughtry led off the inning with a base knock to right field. Merrick walked on four pitches, and Whitwell moved the runners to third and second with just one out on a fielder’s choice groundout. Brookshire bloop-singled to shallow center field to score Daughtry and tie the score to 1-1. Cassidy Relay, the CAA’s batting average leader, extended the rally with a single back at Falen in the circle. Falen recovered nicely after allowing the string of hits, retiring Madison Biddle on a pop fly and getting Allison Corbin to strike out.
Hofstra answered back in the bottom of the inning. D’Orazio wore a pitch to lead off the frame, and Lily Yepez moved D’Orazio into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Fitzgerald made the Seahawks pay, ripping a double into the right-center field gap. Tyler Douglas came in to pinch run for Fitzgerald and took third base on a wild pitch. Morse added to the Pride’s lead with a single to second base, scoring Douglas.
Hofstra blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning off the CAA Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year, Camille Hamilton. Chelsea Villar took advantage of the Seahawks’ defense, reaching second on an error by Whitwell. Villar moved to third on a wild pitch, setting the table for freshman Kimmya Sims, who came up with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. D’Orazio sealed the win with a blast to left field to make it a 6-1 ballgame. The home run was D’Orazio’s seventh of the season.
The Pride looked to earn their spot in the CAA Championship game against Campbell University.
