Hofstra Remains Alive with 6-1 Win over UNCW

Hofstra Remains Alive with 6-1 Win over UNCW

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Dylan Smith

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY 
 
ELON, N.C. – Top-seeded Hofstra (30-23) stayed alive with a late offensive surge to secure a 6-1 victory over second-seeded UNCW in the 2026 CAA Softball Championship at Hunt Softball Park on Friday.
 
The Pride returned to action at 5:30 p.m., in an elimination game against third-seeded Campbell to earn the final spot in the title game opposing fifth-seeded Charleston.


 
Alanna Morse and Gemma D’Orazio registered a pair of RBIs in the winning effort, seeing the latter score twice. Morse also joined Mackenzie Fitzgerald with a two-hit performance. Emma Falen earned her 14th win of the year with a complete-game, three-strikeout effort.
 
Much like the first game of the day, Hofstra’s Falen and UNCW’s Lynsie Herman caught fire in the circle early. Both hurlers retired the first seven batters they faced in Friday’s first elimination game.
 
The Pride broke through in the bottom of the third after capitalizing on a Seahawks’ error. After Fitzgerald reached on the fielding miscue and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, Morse ripped an RBI double to the right-center gap to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Following a blank fourth inning, UNCW knotted the game at one. Averie Daughtry laced a single to right-center before Becca Merrick drew a four-pitch walk. After both runners moved up one base, Ava Brookshire looped a single behind second base to bring the tying run around to score. The Seahawks continued to threaten with the bases loaded, but Falen blew strike three past Allison Corbin for the final out of the frame.
 
Hofstra quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth with a two-spot of their own. Fitzgerald roped an RBI double to right-center and brought D’Orazio in from second. Two batters later, Morse smacked a 3-2 offering up the middle for an RBI single to take a 3-1 edge.
 
The Pride added to their total in the home half of the sixth, taking a five-run lead. Chelsea Villar ended up on third following a fielding error and a wild pitch. Kimmya Sims fought off a nine-pitch at-bat before smacking an RBI single through the right side. Two pitches later, D’Orazio smashed a two-run shot to left-center to take a 6-1 advantage.
 
The Seahawks did not go away quietly, putting runners on first and second in the top of the seventh inning. Falen finished the game with a strikeout to keep the Pride alive.
 
UNCW saw its season come to an end with a 32-19 record. Cassidy Relay and Emily Whitwell put forth multi-hit efforts in the setback.
 
Wednesday, May 6
Game 1: No. 5 Charleston 5, No. 4 Stony Brook 1
Game 2: No. 3 Campbell 4, No. 6 Elon 3
Game 3: No. 4 Stony Brook 5, No. 6 Elon 3
 
Thursday, May 7
Game 4: No. 5 Charleston 4, No. 1 Hofstra 2
Game 5: No. 3 Campbell 9, No. 2 UNCW 4
Game 6: No. 2 UNCW 7, No. 4 Stony Brook 3
 
Friday, May 8
Game 7: No. 5 Charleston 6, No. 3 Campbell 0
Game 8: No. 1 Hofstra 6, No. 2 UNCW 1
Game 9: No. 1 Hofstra vs. No. 3 Campbell – 5:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 9
Game 10: No. 5 Charleston vs. Winner of Game 9 - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary - 2:30 p.m.
 
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