Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Hofstra softball program with a storied history reaching 18 NCAA Tournaments added a coaching legend last year looking to raise more banners.
The Pride appointed Susan Cassidy-Lyke as Hofstra’s new head softball coach in July after 21 years leading the diamond at Molloy University softball where she guided the Lions to three Division II National Championship Tournament appearances.
“I was born and raised on Long Island so I am very familiar with the championship tradition here at Hofstra," Cassidy-Lyke said. “This is a good experience for me and a good challenge.”
Cassidy-Lyke inherited a Hofstra team that returned 13 players from a 2025 team that went 22-28 and fell in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals. Hofstra was picked to finish in a tie for first in the CAA North Division with Stony Brook.
Hofstra boasts two preseason All CAA players in senior pitcher Emma Falen and senior shortstop Alanna Morse, a local product out of Mepham High School.
Morse is coming off a 2025 season in which she led the team in hitting with a .343 batting average with 49 hits in 143 at bats. She is off to another strong start during her final season in a Hofstra uniform as a leadoff hitter batting .365 through 25 games with three home runs to lead the team in both categories.
“She is very talented offensively and defensively and just a great kid that seems to do the right thing all the time,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Morse. “She leads by example.”
Falen recorded a 12-10 record with a 3.14 ERA last season after transferring from UC-Riverside. The Folson, Calif. native recorded seven strikeouts in a 2-1 win against Stony Brook on March 7.
Freshman Madison Steppe has emerged as the ace of the Pride pitching staff this season following a standout career at Monticello High School in Charlottesville, Va. Steppe recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in an 8-5 victory against Buffalo on Feb. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
The Hofstra lineup has plenty of balance early in the season with five hitters batting over .290 in Morse, junior third baseman Gabby Sultan, sophomore catcher Gemma D'Orazio and junior second baseman Nicole Cansel. Junior right fielder Lily Yepez, a former Mepham teammate of Morse, has caught fire offensively with a .455 average in 44 at bats after missing the start of the season due to injury.
“She is another homegrown talent and it's definitely a staple for us,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Yepez. “She really does a lot of different things out of the bottom of the lineup hitting for power, as a slap hitter and can bunt with some good speed.”
Hofstra entered the week at 12-13 overall and 8-1 in CAA play after a sweep at Hampton. The Pride have played the early portion of its home schedule at Farmingdale State due the harsh winter weather, but are slated to return to Bill Edwards Stadium for a three-game series against Campnell on April 10-12. The regular season concludes with three games against Monmouth at Bill Edwards Stadium from April 30 to May 2.
The six-team CAA Tournament commences from May 6 to May 9 with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Pride can qualify for the double elimination CAA playoffs by placing in the top four in the North Division or one of two wildcard teams.
“They've come a long way since the beginning of the year and we have faith they can do it,” Casidy-Lyke said. “It’s really just going to be about consistency and not letting the game get bigger than it is.”
