Maddie Gardner recorded her third complete game of the tournament, leading fifth-seeded Towson to its first CAA Softball Championship title game appearance since 2016.

The Tigers defeated third-seeded Hofstra 2-1 in Game 9 of the 2023 CAA Championship on Friday in front of the home crowd at Hofstra’s Bill Edwards Stadium. 

The Tigers (30-23) advance to the championship final for the seventh time in program history and will continue their search for their first title Saturday at noon. 

Hofstra (26-25) will play in an elimination game at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, taking on the winner of the game between No. 1 Delaware and No. 7 Stony Brook.  

Gardner (16-7) scattered six hits and recorded three strikeouts, going the distance in 113 pitches. 

The effort allowed Towson to erase a deficit for the third time in the Championship, scoring a pair of runs in the sixth to account for the difference. 

The Tigers have scored 10 of their 12 runs in the tournament in the sixth inning or later. 

For the week, Gardner has totaled 354 pitches in 21 innings, with a 2.33 ERA and 11 punchouts. 

The game had three combined hits through the first three and a half innings, before Aliya Catanzarita put Hofstra on the board with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. 

The senior designated player launched the 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for her third home run this season, giving Hofstra the 1-0 lead. 

Towson scored two runs in the sixth, which was enough for Gardner in the circle. 

Elizabeth Yoskowitz started the rally with a leadoff double, before Cori Jones put runners on first and second with a one-out base knock. The duo advanced on a wild pitch, and Mackenzie Lake loaded the bases, drawing a four-pitch walk. 

The next batter, Madyson Peters, sent a ground ball up the middle to score Yoskowitz. A great diving stab by Kasey Collins kept the ball in the infield, as the Pride got the force at second, but an error attempting to turn the double play allowed Jones to score and gave Towson a 2-1 lead.  

Hofstra had a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh, but Gardner ended things with the bases loaded to send Towson to the CAA Championship final. 

Olivia Malinowski pinch hit to lead off the inning and drew a walk. Kayla Wilson swapped places with Malinowski after a fielder’s choice, then Collins singled to put runners on first and second. 

Elizabeth Yoskowitz with the GAME SAVING grab in left! Towson moves on to the CAA Championship game tomorrow afternoon!#GohTigers | #UnitedWeRoar | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/W4Jjh5FJZE

— Towson Softball (@Towson_SB) May 12, 2023

Yoskowitz made the play of the game during the next at-bat, bringing back what would have been a walk-off three-run homer off the bat of Brianna Morse. The runners tagged, advancing to second and third with two outs. 

Meghan Giordano walked to load the bases, before Gardner worked her way out of the jam with a pop fly to the shortstop. 

TIGERS WIN! TOWSON ADVANCES TO THE CAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!#GohTigers | #UnitedWeRoar pic.twitter.com/k59RQRuJx8

— Towson Softball (@Towson_SB) May 12, 2023

Julia Apsel (8-8) had a valiant effort in the circle for Hofstra. The junior lefty surrendered just three hits and one earned run over six innings of work.