Hofstra softball blanks UNCW

The Hofstra University softball team beat the UNC-Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks 6-0 on Saturday, March 30. The Pride improved to 9-17 overall and 7-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), while UNCW worsened to 17-14 overall and 8-3 in the CAA. These two teams are separated by just one game in the conference despite Hofstra having a losing overall record.

A big seventh inning for Hofstra propelled them over the Seahawks. Becca Vaillancourt launched her sixth home run of the season over the left field wall, bringing home Kayla Wilson to give the team a 5-0 lead. Aliya Catanzarita hit a sac fly to right field, scoring Tyler Douglas from third and giving the Pride a 6-0 lead.

Catanzarita opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI groundout to third base. Vaillancourt came around to score on a throwing error by the first baseman, giving Julia Apsel an early 1-0 lead to start her afternoon.

Catanzarita stayed hot, as she singled up the middle in the top of third to score Chelsea Manto from third. Following the single, Mackenzie Fitzgerald capped off the two-run inning with an RBI double that scored Catanzarita. Hofstra led 3-0 after three innings.

Apsel got the start after also starting Friday’s game. Over the course of six shutout innings, Apsel allowed three hits, two walks and struck out three UNC-Wilmington batters. Apsel improved to 8-5 on the year and lowered her ERA to 1.42, which is the best ERA in the CAA.

Vaillancourt raised her batting average to .367 after going three for four at the plate in game two. She also added two RBI and two runs scored in the win.

Over the first two games of the series, Catanzarita is four for six at the plate with six RBI and three runs scored.

The Pride has found offensive production from other parts of the lineup as of late. Even if they’re not getting multi-hit games, they’re finding ways to get on base and put together quality at-bats. If the Pride can cut down on the number of strikeouts, get a couple more bats hot and find another consistent arm in the rotation, it’ll be interesting to see if this team can make a run come May.

With this win in game two, Hofstra earned its third CAA series victory. The next game was on Sunday, March 31, with the first pitch at noon.

 Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco