West Long Branch, NJ – The Hofstra softball team erased a two-run deficit with a three-run fifth inning as the Pride captured a 5-3 CAA win on the road over Monmouth from MU Softball Park. Hofstra's record improves to 7-16 and 5-4 in the CAA as the Pride snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday's win.
 
After Olivia Malinowski reached base on a single, Aliya Catanzarita got the Pride on the board with an RBI triple off the glove of Monmouth's center fielder for the opening run of the day. After a scoreless second inning that featured a pair of strikeouts by Julia Apsel, Monmouth pulled in front in the third inning behind an RBI single and a run driven in on a fielder's choice play to lead 2-1, and a solo home run in the fourth inning put the hosts ahead by two.
 
The Pride retook the lead with a three-run fifth inning. After Chelsea Manto reached base on a single and Becca Vaillancourt was hit by a pitch, Malinowski singled Manto home with a single to right center to bring the Pride to within one. Catanzarita walked to load the bases, and with two outs following a strikeout, Gianna Iaquinto delivered the go-ahead runs with a full-count bloop single to center, scoring Malinowski and Vaillancourt and giving Hofstra a one-run lead. Hofstra added an insurance run off the bat of Gabriella Sultan, who brought Mackenzie Fitzgerald home with a pinch-hit single for the fifth and final run of the afternoon.
 
Vaillancourt and Malinowski each hit twice against the Hawks, while Catanzarita drew two walks. Apsel picked up her sixth win of the season in a complete-game effort, striking out five Monmouth batters.
 
The Pride returns to Bill Edwards Stadum for a non-conference home game against #15 Missouri on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record against Monmouth is now 5-3.
-The Pride outhit Monmouth 11-8.
-Iaquinto's two RBI tied her previous career-high set against Hampton on April 15, 2023.
-Apsel and the Pride stranded eight Monmouth baserunners.