LI to Missouri, former high school softball stars take over for a day at Hofstra

Despite being more than 1,000 miles away from its campus, the Missouri softball team had a loud support section at Hofstra University.

It was a homecoming for East Meadow’s Jenna Laird, Port Washington’s Maddie Gallagher and Hauppauge’s Stefania Abruscato when Missouri played a doubleheader against Fordham and Hofstra on Tuesday afternoon.

For seniors Laird and Gallagher, it was their first time playing a game on Long Island since their high school days. Friends, family and several local high school softball teams filled the stands at Bill Edwards Stadium.

"I haven’t had the chance to play in front of a lot of my family and neither has Jenna. I knew this would be one that I would mark my calendar for,” Gallagher said. “Even the [Port Washington] high school team coming out, it was just awesome to have that huge cheering section.”

“I live two minutes away, literally right down the road,” added Laird. “It’s amazing to play in front of my home crowd.”

Laird went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs, Gallagher went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs and Abruscato went 2-for-4 with two runs in Missouri’s 20-0 win over Fordham in five innings early in the afternoon.

Missouri (29-7), ranked No. 12 in the country by the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, went into extra innings against Hofstra in the nightcap. Abruscato, Newsday’s High School Player of the Year in 2023, looped a two-out single to centerfield to bring in the winning run in the top of the ninth of the Tigers’ 2-1 win. Gallagher drove in the first run in the third inning.

“Jenna and Maddie have been big-time role models for me,” said Abruscato, a catcher/outfielder who went deep on Saturday in a win against Villanova for her first collegiate home run. “I look up to both of them so much. If anything’s wrong, they’re always there for me and even on the field, they’re always there to pick me up.”

Missouri coach Larissa Anderson was also returning to a familiar place. She spent 17 years coaching at Hofstra, including the final four seasons as the Pride’s head coach. Laird was originally committed to Hofstra, with the vision of playing in her hometown.

“When Coach Anderson left, I decided to open my options up and go through the recruiting process again,” Laird said. “I said, ‘If I’m gonna go somewhere 1,000 miles away, it might as well be with someone I know and trust.’”

Laird is batting .374 with a .938 OPS, 39 runs and 20 RBIs as Missouri’s leadoff hitter this season. The shortstop was named the SEC freshman of the year in 2021 and has been named to the All-SEC second team for two straight years. Gallagher spent her first two years at the University of South Carolina before transferring to Missouri before her junior season. The second baseman is batting .319 with a .943 OPS, 24 runs and 24 RBIs.

As Laird and Gallagher were greeting family members outside the team bus, Hofstra sophomore Alanna Morse walked over and gave each of them a hug. Morse, a Mepham product, is Hofstra’s starting shortstop. She primarily played third bast last season, when she hit .284 with 24 RBIs and was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. Morse was Newsday’s Nassau Player of the Year in 2021 when she led Mepham to a Long Island Class A title.

“It was such a great atmosphere,” Morse said. “It was great to see Jenna and Maddie, knowing them growing up. It was a really fun and competitive game, I’m glad to be out here.”

Tuesday’s early game also featured Bayport-Blue Point’s Kate McGuire. Fordham’s starting shortstop is batting .321 with 22 runs and three stolen bases. On Saturday, the sophomore hit her first college home run in a win over George Mason.

When Fordham’s only LI representative is at the plate, the Rams’ dugout cheers, “Kate Long Island.”

“It goes to show that Long Island is not just about lacrosse, it’s about every sport,” McGuire said. “It’s really special to be able to watch and share the same field with the girls that I grew up playing with and against.”