Hempstead, NY – In a game that featured five lead changes, the Hofstra softball team closed out its Colonial Athletic Association series against Towson with an 8-6 defeat to the Tigers on Saturday, April 8, from Bill Edwards Stadium. The loss puts Hofstra at 14-22 overall and 7-5 in the CAA, and the Towson improves to 19-17 overall and 9-6 in league play.
 
Towson scored the game's first run in the second inning with an RBI double, but the lead didn't last as Alanna Morse hit the first home run of her collegiate career in the bottom half of the inning, plating herself and Angelina Ioppolo and giving Hofstra a 2-1 lead. The Pride added to its lead in the inning with an RBI double from Kasey Collins to make the score 3-1. Morse continued her hot day at the plate with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, scoring her sister Brianna Morse to make the score 4-1, before Towson evened things up in the top of the fourth with a three-run inning.
 
Towson retook the lead in the top of the fifth with back-to-back solo home runs to go ahead 6-4. The Pride answered the call in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI by Brianna Morse on a fielding error by Towson's first baseman, scoring Ioppolo after she led off the inning with a triple. Kayla Wilson slapped the first pitch she saw into left field for the tying run, plating Becca Vaillancourt to make the score 6-6. After a lead-off walk for Towson in the top of the seventh, the Tigers took a one-run lead on an RBI triple, and they added their second run of the inning on a one-out RBI single. The Pride went down in order to end the bottom of the seventh, ending the game and handing Towson the series win.
 
Collins and Alanna Morse led the Pride with two hits on the afternoon, while Morse drove in a game-high three RBIs. Nikki Mullin picked up the loss after allowing two runs and four hits on two innings of relief work. Julia Apsel got the start in the circle for the Pride and pitched 4.1 innings while striking out one against 11 hits and six runs. Anna Butler made her second relief appearance in as many games and retired both batters she faced in the seventh inning.
 
Hofstra hosts Villanova on Thursday, April 13, in a midweek non-conference game. First pitch from Bill Edwards Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Her fifth-inning triple was the fifth of Ioppolo's career.
-Hofstra's all-time record against Towson sits at 78-24.
-Towson stranded 11 runners on base to Hofstra's eight.
-Wilson, Chelsea Manto, and Gianna Iaquinto each drew one walk against Towson.