Hempstead, NY – Just one day after pitching a no-hitter through five innings,
Julia Apsel retired all 21 Hampton batters she faced in a seven-inning perfect game, as the Hofstra softball team clinched a spot in the 2024 CAA Softball Championship with a 1-0 win over Hampton from Bill Edwards Stadium.
Apsel finished the game with eight strikeouts in 83 pitches as she picked up her 15th win of the season and the eighth win by shutout of 2024 for the senior ace. Apsel's perfect game is the first perfect game by a Hofstra pitcher since Sophie Dandola went perfect on May 19, 2018, against UNCG in the Columbia Regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Hofstra improves to 18-23 and 14-9 in the Coastal Athletic Association following Saturday's win, and Hampton falls to 15-32 and 6-17 against conference opponents.
After Apsel and Hampton pitcher Angelina Branch held the opposing batters scoreless through four innings, the Pride broke through in the fifth inning for the first and only run of the afternoon. After consecutive fielding errors allowed
Nicole Cancel and
Chelsea Manto on base and
Olivia Malinowski drew a four-pitch walk,
Aliya Catanzarita sent an 0-1 pitch high and deep towards the wall in center field. Catanzarita's blast fell just short of the warning track, but it allowed Cancel to safely cross home plate for the run.
Mackenzie Fitzgerald picked up two of Hofstra's three hits on the afternoon, while Manto reached base safely on a bunt in the third inning.
Kayla Wilson and
Olivia Malinowski both drew two walks for the Pride, and
Chelsea Villar reached base on a walk.
The Pride's final home series of the season wraps up at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. Prior to the game, the Hofstra softball program will honor seven departing seniors in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony.
NOTES:
-Apsel threw the 11th perfect game by a Division I pitcher this season, and the latest since San Diego's Kelsey Tadlock didn't allow a baserunner against Pacific on April 21.
-Hofstra is now 5-0 all-time against Hampton.
-The Pride stranded six runners on base and went 1-5 with runners in scoring position.
