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Hempstead, NY – For the 13th time in program history and first since 2018, the Hofstra softball team has captured the Colonial Athletic Association Championship. In the tournament, third-seeded Hofstra earned a 5-4 walk-off victory over fifth-seeded Towson from Bill Edwards Stadium. The Pride won the first elimination game 6-4, handing Towson its first loss of the tournament and forcing the final elimination game of the five-day, 13-game stretch.
Hofstra improved its record to 29-25 following two wins on the final day of the CAA Championship. A walk-off victory earns the Pride the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division 1 Softball Championship, and they will meet their seed and opponent on the NCAA Selection Show Sunday (May 14) at noon on ESPN2.
With two exits and bases installed in one follower, Angelina Epolo He took a 1-1 pitch over the glove of the outstretched Towson shortstop Mackenzie Lake and out of the infield. Casey Collins He scored the qualifying run from third place Chelsea Manto He easily won the toss home to send the team and the Hofstra fans into celebration with a walk-off victory.
Scoreless innings followed for both teams. Nikki Mullin preventing any runs from hitting home in the top of the second; Alia Catanzarita A walk-off home run ended the first half and gave the Pride a 1-0 lead. After Towson put a runner on second with two outs, Lake hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Meghan Giordano She stepped into the batter’s box to lead off the fourth inning and blasted a solo home run to dead center field, tying the game at 2-2 with her second home run of the CAA Championship. Following a scoreless fifth inning for the Pride and Tigers, Towson loaded the bases with two outs and scored the go-ahead run on a five-pitch walk to Ali Hickman, and the Tigers put together their second run of the inning. infield single, making the score 4-2. The Pride refused to back down and after putting runners on first and second at second, Becca Vaillancourt Catanzarita scored to cut Towson’s lead to one run in an 0-2 inning.
Later Julia Apsel He retired the side in the top of the seventh inning. Brianna Morse He hit a deep double to left center and Oliva Malinowski drew a pinch-hit walk. Collins followed with her second single of the contest, loading the bases with no outs. Towson set the stage for Iopolo’s walk-off heroics and recorded power outings at home in consecutive at-bats.
In the first win, Hofstra scored twice on an SAC fly and a fielder’s choice. After Towson cut the lead to one in the second inning, Hofstra responded in the third with an RBI single by Catanzarita, which pushed Hofstra’s advantage back to two runs. Following Towson’s run in the sixth inning, Giordano drove the CAA Championship’s first home run to left center to make it 1-0 at the wall, bringing three to home plate to make it a 6-2 ballgame in the seventh. Towson tied it with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Mullin picked up the save, recording the final two outs.
Apsel won both games today to give her 10 wins on the season, while Mullin picked up her fourth save of the season. Collins went a combined 5-8 in both games, while Giordano drove in nine RBIs and Catanzarita scored two RBIs and hit one of Hofstra’s doubles on the day.
Giordano was named Most Outstanding Performer of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships and was joined by Apsell, Catanzarita and Collins on the all-tournament team.
Notes:
-Georgis’ two home runs on the day make her 15 for the season, fourth most in a single season in Hofstra softball history.
– Previously won four CAA championships as a player (2002-05) and two as an assistant coach (2012-13), head softball coach at Bill Edwards Stadium. Adrienne Clarke He has now won seven CAA championships at Bill Edwards Stadium.
– Giordano and Collins have now each reached base in 21 consecutive games, and Giordano has extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games.
-Hofstra is now 80-25 all-time against Towson. Hofstra snapped a three-game losing streak against the Tigers.
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