Hempstead, NY – Behind a six-run fifth inning and five Campbell errors, the Hofstra softball team bounced back from Friday's loss to the Fighting Camels with a thrilling 9-7 win from Bill Edwards Stadium in Coastal Athletic Association action. Hofstra is now 22-17 overall and 15-2 in the CAA with the win, while Campbell drops to 24-17 overall and 11-3 in league play.
 
Campbell tagged Madison Steppe for four runs in the first inning before the freshman settled in and retired nine of the next 13 Campbell batters. Nicole Cancel drove a double past the glove of the Campbell shortstop for the Pride's opening run in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to three, before a SAC fly RBI by Chelsea Villar and an RBI single by Ryleigh Smith brought Hofstra to within one in the third inning.
 
Campbell drove in a run with an RBI single in the fourth inning before a solo home run on the first pitch of the fifth inning gave the Fighting Camels a three-run edge. Hofstra loaded the bases on singles by Smith, Mackenzie Fitzgerald, and Cancel with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Smith crossed home play on a grounder off the glove of the second baseman. Alanna Morse evened the score at 6-6 with a two-run single through the gap between third and shortstop, and after a double steal put runners on second and third, the Pride pulled ahead off a two-run double by Dahlia Palacio just out of reach of the shortstop's glove. Villar drove in the Pride's sixth run of the inning on a bases-loaded groundout to give Hofstra a 9-6 lead.
 
Campbell clawed a run back in the top of the sixth on a fielder's choice groundout, but it was the last run scored by the visitors as Emma Falen and the Hofstra defense clamped down and preserved the win, including a diving catch by Gemma D'Orazio in right field to end the sixth inning.
 
Cancel, Palacio, and Smith all finished the game with two hits. Palacio also finished with two RBIs, as did Morse and Villar. Falen pitched the remaining three innings and struck out three batters against two hits, a walk, and a run allowed to earn her 10th win of the season. Steppe retired three via strikeout in four innings.
 
The series rubber match will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday on Bill Edwards Day/Alumni Day from Bill Edward Stadium.
 
NOTES:
-This is Hofstra's first true home win of the season; Hofstra was previously a combined 6-0 from FSC Softball Complex and RVC Athletic Complex.
-Hofstra is now 3-3 all-time against Campbell.
-Campbell's five errors are the most by an opponent against Hofstra this season.
-Hofstra outhit Campbell 9-8, moving the Pride to 18-3 when outhitting its opponent.