Hampton, VA – Madison Steppe struck out eight Hampton batters and didn't allow a single baserunner past second base until the seventh inning as the Hofstra softball team completed its sweep of the Pirates with a 2-0 win from Pirate Softball Stadium. Hofstra is now 12-13 overall and 8-1 in the CAA with the victory, and Hampton drops to 6-19 overall and 1-8 in the conference.
 
Hofstra scored its two runs in the second inning. After Nicole Cancel got herself into scoring position with a single and a stolen base, Chelsea Villar snuck a grounder under the diving Hampton second baseman, and Cancel rounded the bases and beat the throw home for the opening run. After Villar advanced all the way to third, she took advantage of a deep sacrifice fly by Mackenzie Fitzgerald to up the Pride's lead to two.
 
Steppe was in complete control from the first pitch, only allowing nine Hampton players on base through two walks and seven hits in 107 pitches. Hampton had chances in the to get on the scoreboard in the final three innings, but a runner was called out via interference in the fifth, while Steppe forced a groundout in the sixth, and Alanna Morse caught a line drive for the final out of the game.
 
Hofstra tallied six hits in the win by Cancel, Morse, Villar, Ryleigh Smith, Gabby Sultan, and Lily Yepez, while Gemma D'Orazio and Dahlia Palacio both reached base via walk.
 
Hofstra faces Central Connecticut State in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 25, beginning at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-This is Steppe's fifth game this season with at last five strikeouts.
-Hofstra has won all 10 meetings against Hampton, and the Pride have gone 9-0 against Hampton since the Pirates' first season in the CAA in 2023.
-Cancel stole a career-high two bases against Hampton.
-The Pirates left nine runners on base compared to six for Hofstra.