Wilmington, NC - The Hofstra softball team suffered a 3-0 defeat against Stony Brook in the Pride's first game of the 2024 CAA Championship from Boseman Field in Wilmington, North Carolina. The #6 seed in the six-team tournament, Hofstra will face #5 Elon in the elimination game at 5 p.m. after Elon lost 5-2 against #3 UNCW in the opening game of the CAA Championship.

The Pride drops to 21-25 following the loss, and Stony Brook advances with a 35-15 record.

After three scoreless innings, Hofstra loaded the bases in the top of the fourth on an Olivia Malinowski single, a walk to Chelsea Villar, and a Stony Brook error on an Alanna Morse grounder, but Mackenzie Fitzgerald was called out at first base to end the Pride's scoring threat. Stony Brook led the bottom half of the inning with a single, and they would score the opening run with two outs on a dribbler through the infield to make it 1-0.

The Seawolves added to its lead with a two-out single past third base to score the runner from second in the bottom of the fifth, and they made it 3-0 in the next inning on a solo home run to left field. The Pride put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, but Kayla Wilson grounded out to first to end the game and send Hofstra into the elimination game.

Hofstra was held to three hits by the Seawolves, with Malinowski, Aliya Catanzarita, and Chelsea Manto reaching base by hit, and Wilson, Villar, and Gabriella Sultan drew walks for the Pride. In the circle, Julia Apsel struck out five batters for Hofstra.

NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 21-12 all-time against Stony Brook. Hofstra has lost four consecutive games against Stony Brook.
-Stony Brook's sixth-inning home run was just the fourth home run allowed by Apsel this season.