Hempstead, NY – In the first of a three-game series from Bill Edwards Stadium, the Hofstra softball team used timely hitting and excellent pitching to secure a 3-2 win over Monmouth in Coastal Athletic Association action.
The Pride improves to 27-21 overall and 19-3 in the CAA with the win, and Monmouth drops to 20-29 overall and 10-12 in league play as the Hawks battle for a spot in the CAA Championship.
After
Dahlia Palacio bunted her way onto first and advanced all the way to third,
Chelsea Villar put the first run on the scoreboard with a bloop single to shallow left field. Monmouth evened the score with an RBI single in the top of the second inning, but
Nicole Cancel smashed a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a solo home run to put Hofstra back ahead of the Hawks.
With two outs and a runner on third in the top of the fifth, Monmouth's Liv Smith drove a hard grounder through the gap between first and second to even the score at 2-2.
Kimmya Sims reached base on an infield single and advanced to second in the bottom of the fifth, and Palacio gave Hofstra the lead again with an RBI single to shallow right field.
Emma Falen retired six of the next seven batters to seal Hofstra's 19th conference win of the season.
Palacio led the Pride with two hits in three at-bats against the Hawks. In the circle, Falen went the distance for her 12
th complete game of 2026, recording four strikeouts in 88 pitches.
The series resumes on Saturday at 1 p.m.
NOTES:
-With 19 wins, Hofstra ties the program-record for CAA wins in a season originally set in 2012.
-Hofstra is now 11-4 all-time against Monmouth.
-Hofstra outhit Monmouth, 7-4.
-Cancel and
Lily Yepez stole one base each.
