SETTERS SPLIT WITH ASSUMPTION

BRIARCLIFF, N.Y.- Larissa Porcelli (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) went 3-for-7 with two RBIs and  two runs scored as the Setters split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with the Greyhounds of Assumption College. Pace rallied in game one to win in eight innings 4-3, while the Greyhounds earned the split with a 7-4 win in the nightcap. The Setters move to 16-14 overall and 4-8 in the NE-10, while the Greyhounds are now 11-13 and 5-7 in conference play.

Assumption would take an 3-0 lead in the opener with one run in the first inning and a pair of runs in the third. Pace would answer in the fourth as Nicole Shultheis (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) led off with a double and moved to third on a Porcelli single. Schultheis would score on a wild pitch, with Porcelli moving to second. Porcelli advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a single by Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) to slice the score to 3-2.

In the sixth, the Setters got back-to-back singles by Porcelli and Lauren Bell (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy ) (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) to start the inning. One out later, Shea would line one up the middle but it hit Porcelli for the second out in the inning with Bell and Shea reaching second and first respectively. However, the Setters would tie the game at three as Sarah Meleney (Rockville, MD/Richard Montgomery) (Rockville, MD/Richard Montgomery) singled to left field to score Bell, who was able to avoid the tag to knot the game at three to force extra innings.

In the eighth, Pace would load the bases with one out and Taliza Costanzo (Otisville, NY/Minisink Valley) (Otisville, NY/Minisink Valley) would draw a walk to force in the game-winning run for the Setters 4-3 victory. Shea (4-3) tossed a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out three.

In the nightcap, Assumption jumped out to a 7-0 through the top of the sixth while Greyhound starter limited the Setters to two hits over their first five innings. Pace rallied in the bottom of the sixth with two outs as Kayla Nelson (Apple Valley, CA/Granite Hills/University of MD Eastern Shore) (Apple Valley, CA/Granite Hills/UMES) singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Schultheis also singled and proceeded to steal second base. Porcelli lined a two-run double to center to score Nelson and Schultheis. Bell followed with a two-run homerun to left as the Setters plated four in the frame to slice the score to 7-4. Pace would come up short and dropped game two by a 7-4 final.

For Pace, Samantha Poulsen (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) (Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits to fall to 5-4 on the season. For Assumption, Lowery pitched a complete game, striking out nine, while allowing seven hits.

Pace returns to action on Wednesday, April 14 when the Setters will host Caldwell College in a non-conference doubleheader at Pace Field at 3 pm.