Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra softball offense erupted for nine runs in the first inning to set the tone for the Pride's series opener against North Carolina A&T in a 9-1, five-inning win over the Aggies in Coastal Athletic Association action from Bill Edwards Stadium on a blustery Friday afternoon. Hofstra improved to 11-17 and 9-4 in the CAA following its fourth straight win and fifth consecutive conference win, while North Carolina A&T drops to 8-24 and 2-11 in conference play.
 
After three consecutive singles by Becca Vaillancourt, Olivia Malinowski, and Aliya Catanzarita to start the bottom of the first, Chelsea Villar drew a five-pitch walk to plate the first run of the day, and Gianna Iaquinto scored Malinowski from third on a SAC fly to left, putting the score at 2-0. After Kayla Wilson drew a walk to lead the bases, Mackenzie Fitzgerald laced a single through the middle of the infield to score Villar and Catanzarita, making the score 4-0 Pride with only one out. Chelsea Manto upped Hofstra's lead to seven with a bases-clearing double into left center, and Malinowski and Catanzarita scored back-to-back RBI doubles to give the hosts a big 9-0 lead against the Aggies.
 
The Hofstra offense cooled off after its explosive first inning, putting just three baserunners following the opening frame. Julia Apsel pitched three shutout innings, allowing only three hits to the Aggies, for her 10th win of the season before Marisa Ogden pitched the fourth inning that saw her earn a swinging strikeout while North Carolina A&T ended the shutout attempt with an RBI single to left field. Anna Butler earned herself a strikeout as she pitched the final inning for the Pride.
 
Catanzarita was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Malinowski crossed home twice and brought home a run from two hits in three at-bats. Villar, Wilson, Alanna Morse, and Gabriella Sultan all drew one walk apiece for the home side in the first game of a three-game series.
 
Game two between the Pride and the Aggies is set for Saturday, April 6, with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
NOTES:
-Apsel becomes the first Hofstra pitcher to win four consecutive starts since Sarah Cornell in February 11-17, 2018.
-Manto's three RBIs are the most she's recorded in a single game since bringing home four against Villanova on March 7, 2021.
-Malinowski has reached base safely in eight consecutive games, and Vaillancourt has recorded a hit in seven straight games.
-Hofstra evens its all-time series against North Carolina A&T to 2-2.
-Both teams stranded four runners on base each.