Washington, DC – In the first of two games in the Maryland-DC area, the Hofstra softball team scored a 1-0 road win over Howard Tuesday morning from our nation's capital.
 
Hofstra is now 3-19 following its Tuesday morning win, and Howard drops to 9-14.
 
Hofstra's run came in the fourth inning. Mackenzie Fitzgerald led the inning off with a double to center on a 0-1 pitch. With two outs following a fly out and a groundout that allowed Fitzgerald to advance to third and put herself in scoring position. On the next at-bat, Fitzgerald sprinted home on a wild pitch and slid in safely for the lone run of the game.
 
Anna Butler and Carley Ernst, plus a great showing from Hofstra in the diamond, all combined for a three-hit shutout win. Butler pitched five innings in the circle and struck out two Howard batters against two hits allowed and a walk, while Ernst picked up her first collegiate save in two innings pitched with a strikeout. Howard's best chance at scoring a run came in the third inning with runners on first and second, but Butler and the Pride escaped the inning without allowing a run to score.
 
Hofstra finished the game with three hits against the Bison, with Fitzgerald and Dahlia Palacio recording doubles and Gemma D'Orazio reaching base on an infield single.
 
The Pride's Maryland swing continues on Wednesday, March 19, at 12 p.m. against UMBC.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 3-0 all-time against Howard.
-This was Butler's first win from the pitcher's circle since May 5, 2023, against Drexel.
-D'Orazio caught a Howard runner stealing in the fourth inning.