SETTERS SPLIT WITH BENTLEY

BRIARCLIFF, NY - The Pace University softball team split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with Bentley at Pace Field on the Pleasantville campus of Pace University. Bentley took the first game, 3-0, before Pace won the second game, 4-3, in 8 innngs.  Pace goes to 10-12 overall and 5-5 in the Northeast-10 while Bentley goes to 4-19 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

In the first game, Bentley tagged Pace started Julia Hunt (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) for three runs and seven hits over the first three innings of the game.  Hunt would settle in, holding Bentley to just two hits over the last four innings while retiring 11 of the last 13 batters she faced.  Bentley starter Maureen McGinn (St. Albans, VT/Bellows Free Acad.) picked up her first win of the year after hurling a complete game shutout, scattering six hits while walking one and striking out six. 

Bentley took a 1-0 lead in the 2^nd inning when Caroline Ciummei (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough) led off with a single to left center.  After she was sacrificed to second by Jenna Crowell (Kennebunk, ME/Cheverus), Briana Kneeland (Winthrop, MA/Winthrope) followed with a double to left center, scoring Ciummei. 

In the 3^rd inning, Leigh Cavanaugh (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) dropped in a base hit just behind first base to lead off the inning.  After Cavanaugh successfully stole second base, Allison Ciummei (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough) doubled down the leftfield line, scoring Cavanaugh from second.  Alex Hitchcock (Abington, MA/Abington) then followed with a double of her won, scoring Ciummei from second base and giving Bentley all they would need, a 3-0 lead, to finish off Pace.

For the game, Cavanaugh, Kneeland and Amanda Cifarelli (Rye, NY/Rye) each collected two hits. For Pace, Christina Pane (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) and Michelle Brigham (Unionville, NY/Minisink Valley) each had two hits.

In the second game, Dina Ferriero (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury) led off the game with a hard hit ball to Pace right fielder Carolyn Krause (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville).  Krause misplayed the ball, allowing Ferriero to move to second base.  Cavanaugh then moved Ferriero to second with a sacrifice bunt and Hitchcock followed with a single to right center, scoring Ferriero and giving Bentley a 1-0 lead after one inning.

Pace would answer in the bottom half of the inning when Krause led off with a double to left field. Pane then dropped down a bunt in front of the pitcher's mound and beat out the throw with Krause moving to third.  After Pane stole second, D.J. Ketchel (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) singled to short, scoring Krause and moving Pane to third, tying the game at 1-1.  Brigham followed with a deep fly ball to left field, scoring Pane and giving Pace a 2-1 lead.

Bentley would tie the game in the 3^rd inning when Ferriero led off the inning with a single up the middle.  Cavanaugh then sacrificed Ferriero to second and A. Ciummei reached on a bunt single, moving Ferriero to third.  Hitchcock then hit a deep fly ball to center, scoring Ferriero and tying the game at 2-2. 

Both teams were held scoreless the rest of the way.  In the top of the 8^th, Bentley took a 3-2 lead when A. Ciummei walked and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Hitchcock grounded out to first, moving Ciummei to third.  C. Ciummei then singled to left center, scoring A. Ciummei.
In the bottom of the 8^th, Krause led off the inning with her second double of the game.  Pane then sacrificed Krause to third and Ketchel singled up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.  Brigham would up big once again for the Setters, doubling to right center and driving home Ketchel with the winning run.

On the mound, Pace freshman Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) (Pleasant Praire, WI/Tremper) improved to 4-2 on the year after going the distance and holding Bentley to three runs - two earned - on six hits while striking out nine.  For Bentley, started Sarah Hanley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) was dealt a no-decision after holding Pace to two runs on four hits over four innings.  Sarah Sabo (Providence, RI/LaSalle Acad.) took the loss to drop to 0-5 on the year after allowing two runs on four hits.

At the plate, Ketchel was 3-for-4 with two RBI while also stealing two bases, while Brigham also drove in two runs.  Krause was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Pace returns to action when they travel to Springfield, Mass. on Friday, April 14^th to take on the Yellow Jackets of American International College in a Northeast-10 Conference match-up slated for a 3:00 p.m. start.