BRONX, N.Y. – Taking the 2025 home opener at Bahoshy Field in dominating fashion, Fordham University softball defeated Hofstra, 9-1 in five innings Wednesday afternoon.
The Rams loaded the bases with their first three hitters in the second inning, before scoring five runs all with two outs in the frame, and went on to hold a 6-1 lead through three. Adding three more runs in the fourth inning, Fordham eclipsed the run rule with an eight run lead going to the fifth, where Emilee Watkins tallied her third win of the campaign, setting down the top of the Hofstra order, 1-2-3.
Watkins pitched the full length of the game, throwing just 67 pitches while allowing one run on four hits, while on the offensive end, the Maroon and White backed their pitcher with 11 hits on the day, as well as five walks, with every player in the lineup itching base safely at least once.
Eva Koratsis led the way with three RBIs on a pair of hits, ahead of both Sydney Wells and Neleh Nogay who drove in two runs apiece. Erin Hoppe came around to score three times Wednesday, one of three players with multiple hits alongside Koratsis and Nogay. Seven different Rams tallied a run scored on the afternoon, while Sophie Nesturrick and Kate McGuire drove in a single run each.
Loading the bases with nobody out, Fordham started the second inning with a pair of singles and a walk, before breaking off five runs after two quick outs immediately after. Nogay drove a two-run single back up the middle, just ahead of another two RBI single from Wells to make it 4-0, and Eva Koratsis added one more on the next at-bat to cap the rally.
Hofstra added a run back in the top of the third before the Rams answered on a RBI single from McGuire, her first of the year in her first game back from injury in the bottom of the frame.
The hot bats went back to work in the fourth for Fordham, leading off with a Wells walk before Koratsis pinged a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left-center to make it a seven-run lead, and a Nesturrick RBI double saw the Rams go up 9-1 heading to the fifth, where Watkins shut down the Pride in order to end the game.
The Maroon and White continue their first homestand of the campaign this weekend when Loyola Chicago comes to The Bronx for the Atlantic 10 Conference opener, playing a doubleheader on Saturday and single game Sunday, with both days slated to start just after 12:00 p.m.
