HAMPTON, Va. (March 20, 2026) … A pair of two-run innings for visiting Hofstra provided the jumpstart as the Pride defeated Hampton 9-3 in a CAA series opener on Friday afternoon.

Hofstra (10-13, 6-1) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the top of the fourth as they scored two in the first and third with one more in the fourth. Dahlia Palacio started the scoring with a two-run double in the first, a groundout and sacrifice fly in the third and a Gabby Sultan double in the fourth.

Hampton (6-15, 1-6) got on the board in the fourth as Camryn Hamilton started with a double and Leah Maduro singled her in with a two-out hit trimming the deficit to 5-1.

The Pride got a pair of runs in the fifth on consecutive doubles from Mackenzie Fitzgerald and Lily Yepez who made it around to score on an error to push the advantage to 7-1.

The Pirates answered those two runs with two of their own in the home half of the fifth.  Carmynn Bonner walked and scored on a one-out double from Aitrihna Aiken. Violet Salazar then took a 1-2 pitch back up the middle to plate Aiken as Hampton pulled to 7-3.

The guests scratched two more runs in the seventh as Palacio started with a single and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and ground out. Yepez tripled her in and eventually scored on a stolen base.

Hofstra was paced by Yepez who was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Hampton had six hits on the day with six different players having one apiece.

Madison Steppe took the win for Hofstra allowing six hits, three runs and walked four while striking out four. Ava Lester took the loss for Hampton allowing 12 hits and walking two.

The same teams will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m.