Hofstra Eliminated from NCAA Softball Tournament by California
Hunter Peters
BOX SCORE
NORMAN, Okla. (May 20, 2023) – Hofstra was eliminated from the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament following a 7-0 setback to California Saturday evening at Marita Hynes Field on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
The Golden Bears (34-20-1) stay alive in the Norman Regional and will face Missouri in a second straight elimination game tonight. The Pride finishes 29-27 this season after winning its conference-leading 13th CAA Softball title.
Cal only outhit Hofstra 8-7, but four of the Golden Bears’ hits were home runs, while the Pride did not scratch across a run, leaving nine on base.
Acacia Anders recorded the lone multi-hit effort for the Golden Bears, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer, three RBIs and one run scored. Four players tallied a home run for Cal, who recorded its fourth game this season with at least four homers.
Two players tallied multiple hits for the Pride, as Aliya Catanzarita and Alanna Morse went 2-for-3 on Saturday. Morse had the lone base knock for Hofstra yesterday, finishing the regional 3-for-5 at the plate.
Julia Apsel retired the first five batters she faced, but Cal scored first with a two-out solo home run from Elon Butler in the top of the second. It was the 10th homer this season for the freshman.
The Golden Bears extended their lead to 4-0 after back-to-back two-out home runs in the top of the third. Diamond Holland bunted for a base hit with one out before stealing second and reaching third on an error after a failed sacrifice attempt. Anders worked a 3-1 hitter’s count before smacking a two-run homer to give Cal a 3-0 lead. Makena Smith followed two pitches later with a solo shot, recording her team-best 15th home run this spring.
Cal tacked on two more runs via the long ball in the top of the sixth. Smith drew a five-pitch walk with one out before Kacey Zobac took the next pitch out of the park for her 10th home run this season. The fourth home run of the game for the Golden Bear pushed the lead to 6-0.
The Golden Bears added their final run in the top of the seventh. Holland was hit by a pitch, proceeding to steal second and third. Anders delivered the two-out RBI single for California’s only run scored, not by a home run.
Hofstra left runners on the corners in the first and second, two runners on in the third and bases loaded in the sixth unable to come up with a timely hit. Subsequently, California scored five runs with two outs, including three of its four two-out hits resulting in home runs.
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