MURFREESBORO, N.C.- The Setters dropped their first game of the season as they split a doubleheader with Chowan University. Pace took the opener 3-2, but the Hawks took the nightcap 3-1. Pace moves their record to 7-1 on the season, while the Hawks are now 10-16 overall.
Chowan struck in the opening inning as they pushed across a run to take a 1-0 lead. The Setters rallied in the second as Rachael McMahon (Corona, CA/Esperanza) (Corona, CA/Esperanza) hit a sacrifice fly to knot the game at one. Pace took the lead in the fourth as Samantha Garcia (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) walked to lead off the inning, while McMahon singled to put runners at first and second. Jeane Drury (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic High School) (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic) doubled in Garcia and McMahon to put the Setters up 3-1. The Hawks added a run in the fifth inning but Setters' starter Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) closed the door on Chowan as Pace held on for the win. McCann (3-0) stayed perfect on the season as she tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits.
In the nightcap, the Setters got their lone run of the game on the third on a solo homerun by senior Lauren Bell (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) as Pace took a 1-0 lead. Chowan took the lead with two runs in the fifth and added a run in the sixth as the Hawks handed the Setters their first loss of the season. Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) fell to 1-1 on the season as she tossed a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out four.
The Setters are back in action on Friday, March 16 when they will travel to Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA for a doubleheader starting at 1 pm.
