SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON 2-2 AT HAMPTON TOURNAMENT

HAMPTON, Va.- The Pace softball team opened their season at 2-2 after four games at the Hampton University Tournament. The Setters opened the tournament on Friday, beating Arcadia 5-3 before falling to Barton 5-4. Pace beat Hampton on Saturday before wrapping up the tournament with an 11-2 loss to Hampton on Sunday.

In the season opening victory over Arcadia, Nicole Schultheis (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) went 3-for-3 with and RBI and run scored, while Amanda Dague (Houston, TX/Klein Collins) (Houston, TX/Klein Collins) ripped a 2-run double in the first to lead the Setters to a 5-3 win. Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, CA/Granite Hills/University of MD Eastern Shore) (Apple Valley, CA/Granite Hills/UMES) went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. On the mound, Christina Rescigno (Elmsford, NY/Good Counsel Academy) (Elmsford, NY/Good Counsel Academy) tossed five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out three to earn the win. Colby Hochmuth (Delanson, NY/Duanesburg) (Delanson, NY/Duaneburg) earned her first collegiate save, tossing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit sand striking out two.

Also on Friday, the Setters capitalized on a Barton error and a pair of passed balls to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Barton would push a run across in the top of the eighth to go up 5-4 and held Pace off the board in the bottom of the inning to give the Setters a split on the day. Michelle Forgione (Islip, NY/Islip) (Islip, NY/Islip) went 1-for-4 on the day with a fourth inning RBI single. Freshman Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) went 5 1/3 innings on the mound, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out one. Alicia Parlon (Norton, MA/Norton) (Norton, MA/Norton) tossed a 1 1/3 scoreless innings, while Rescigno tossed the final inning, allowing one unearned run on one hit.

On Saturday, the Setters played host Hampton and held off a late rally for a 9-6 victory. Pace took advantage of three Hampton errors in the second, scoring three runs in the inning. The Setters would tack on a run in the third and pulled ahead in the fourth Larissa Porcelli (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) laced a three-run double  to center to put Pace up 8-0 after four innings. Porcelli would also hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Nelson also had a solid game for Pace, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Hampton would rally with three runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh but fell short of a comeback. Samantha Poulsen (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits to earn her first victory of the season. Kelly Fisher (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County HS) (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County HS) saw her first action of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, while striking out three.

In the Hampton Tournament finale on Sunday, the Setters once again faced host Hampton, losing 11-2 in five innings. Porcelli went 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Schultheis went 1-for-3 with one run scored. Rescigno pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (four earned) on 11 hits and struck out two to fall to 1-2 on the season. Hochmuth tossed 2/3 scoreless, while Parlon went one inning, allowing two runs on three hits and struck out one.

The Setters return to action on Wednesday, March 17 when the Setters travel to Bloomfield College for a non-conference game at 3 pm.