Hempstead, NY – Hosting a pivotal Coastal Athletic Association series against reigning CAA champions UNCW, the Hofstra softball team split its doubleheader with the Seahawks, winning the first game 11-3 in five innings before falling 6-5 in the second game.
 
Hofstra is now 13-22 overall and 9-8 in the CAA after today's games from Bill Edwards Stadium, and UNCW stands at 23-16 overall and 9-8 in league play.
 
The Seahawks took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Hofstra fielding error, but the Pride bounced back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out, two-run double by Dahlia Palacio, scoring Chelsea Villar and Anna Butler to go up 2-1. Nicole Cancel drew a hit by pitch to lead off the second inning, and Lily Yepez drew an eight-pitch walk to put runners on first and second for Villar, who crushed a three-run home run over the wall in left field to make it 5-1 Pride.
 
UNCW drew to within three with a pair of runs in the third inning, but the hosts responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to seven. With runners on the corners and two outs, Butler sent the first pitch she saw into the gap in left center for a triple, scoring both Hofstra runners to make it a 7-3 score. A single by Mackenzie Fitzgerald scored Butler to make it 8-3 Pride, and after Alanna Morse reached base on an infield single, Palacio smacked her second two-run double of the contest for the ninth and 10^th Hofstra runs of the contest. The Pride ended the game in the fifth inning with an RBI double by Morse.
 
In game two, the visitors scored twice in the first inning, and added another two runs in the top of the fourth inning to lead 4-0. Hofstra halved UNCW's lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double by Fitzgerald and a groundout by Palacio with Fitzgerald on third, making it 4-2 in favor of the Seahawks after four innings. UNCW set the margin back at four with a two-run fifth inning to make it 6-2, but Yepez made it a 6-3 ballgame as she beat the throw home on an infield dribbler from Fitzgerald. With the difference still at three going into the seventh inning, Butler and Fitzgerald reached base on a lead-off single and a hit by pitch, and the two advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Palacio came through with a clutch double, scoring Butler and Fitzgerald and bringing the home team one run shy of tying the game. Unfortunately, Gabby Sultan lined out to end the game on the next at-bat.
 
Palacio drove in seven RBIs over the two games on three hits, while Fitzgerald finished the day with three RBIs and two hits, and Morse went 3-4 in the first game and recorded three RBIs. Emma Falen pitched seven total innings against the Seahawks, earning the win in game one on five innings with three strikeouts, while she pitched two innings of relief in game two and earned a strikeout. Carley Ernst started game two and went five innings with four Ks.
 
Depending on the weather, the third game of the series will be held either Saturday or Sunday. Visit GoHofstra.com or the Hofstra softball X account for updates.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 51-9 all-time against UNCW. Hofstra has won five of the last six meetings against the Seahawks.
-Kellie Sandas recorded her first career hit with an infield single in the second game.
-Palacio and Gemma D'Orazio have reached base safely in nine consecutive games each.
-Palacio's four RBIs in game two were a new career-high.
-Six Hofstra batters were hit by pitch across both games.