Union, NJ – A three-run sixth inning helped the Hofstra softball team to a series-opening 6-2 win over Monmouth on Friday from Cougar Softball Field on the Kean University campus in Union, New Jersey. Hofstra improves its record to 8-11 overall and 4-0 in CAA play, and Monmouth is now 6-13 overall and 0-4 in league play with the loss.
 
The Pride opened the scoring with a solo home run by Nicole Cancel in the second inning before the Hawks tied the score at 1-1 with an RBI triple in the third. Cancel and Gemma D'Orazio reached base with two outs in the fourth inning, and Lily Yepez put the Pride ahead with an RBI single to score Cancel from third.
 
A lead-off home run in the fifth inning by Dahlia Palacio upped the Hofstra lead to two, and runs off a Yepez single a pair of Monmouth errors put another three runs on the scoreboard in the sixth to extend Hofstra's advantage to five. Monmouth closed the gap with a two-out run in the seventh, but Madison Steppe forced a fly-out with runners in scoring position to secure the win.
 
Yepez went a perfect 3-3 at the plate today with two RBIs, while Cancel and Palacio each recorded two hits against the Hawks. Steppe picked up her fourth consecutive win with three strikeouts against two runs allowed on five hits.
 
The series continues at noon on Saturday.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 9-3 all-time against Monmouth with five consecutive wins.
-Steppe pitched her third complete game win of the season.
-Yepez's two RBIs are a single-game high.
-Hofstra outhit Monmouth 12-5.