BRIARCLIFF, N.Y.- Lauren Bell (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) blasted a walk-off solo homerun in the nightcap as the Setters completed a sweep over the College of Saint Rose. Pace took game one 7-1 and Bell's blast in game two lifted the Setters to a thrilling 9-8 win in the nightcap. The Setters improve to 11-1 on the season and open the Northeast-10 play with a 2-0 record, while the Golden Knights fall to 4-11 and 0-4 in conference play.
In the opener, Nicole Schultheis (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) (Plainview, NY/Bethpage) got the Setters going in the first inning as she singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Schultheis score on a base hit by Hana Wright (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic). Pace added to their lead in the third as Lana Buchbinder (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) and Sabrina Gonzalez (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) led off with singles and moved up a base on a sac bunt. Bell came through with a two-run double as the Setters led 3-0.
The Setters tacked on some insurance runs in the latter innings as Wright and Samantha Garcia (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Ranch Cucamonga) each had RBI singles as part of a three-run fifth inning. Saint Rose got on the board in the sixth with a solo homerun but the Setters answered in the bottom of the inning. Buchbinder was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout. Wright hit a sacrifice fly to score Buchbinder.
For the game, Schultheis went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Wright went 2-for-3 as she collected three RBI's. On the hill, Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) tossed six innings as she allowed one run on four hits and struck out two as she improved to 2-1 on the season. Kelly Fisher (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) retired all three batters she faced in the final inning as she recorded a strike out.
In the nightcap, the Golden Knights pushed across a run in the opening inning but the Setters rallied with three in the bottom of the frame. They capitalized on three Saint Rose errors, while Rachael McMahon (Corona, CA/Esperanza) (Corona, CA/Esperanza) had an RBI single in the inning. In the second, Schultheis walked and scored on a Bell double. Pace got another run in the following inning as the Setters loaded the bases and Gonzalez drew a walk to force in a run as Pace led 5-1 after three innings.
The Golden Knights rallied as they hit a pair of homeruns in the fourth inning as they scored five runs in the inning to take a 6-5 lead. Pace answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on McMahon's two-run single to put the Setters back in the lead at 7-6. Saint Rose jumped back in the lead with two runs in the fifth and had the bases loaded. Kayla Hill (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison High School) (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) came on in relief and cut off the rally as she struck out the final batter of the inning.
Pace tied the game in the bottom of the fifth as Gonzalez doubled and scored on a Bell single. In the seventh, Bell's blasted over the left field fence carried the Setters to a walk-off victory and completed a electrifying sweep over the Golden Knights.
In the game, Bell went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI's, while McMahon was 3-for-4 with three RBI's. In the mound, Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (two earned) on seven hits, while striking out one. Fisher went 1/3 of an inning, allowing one runs on one hits. Hill (3-0) stayed unbeaten on the season as she tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and fanned two.
The Setters are back in action on Wednesday March 21 when Pace will host Caldwell College in a non-conference two bill on the Briarcliff campus at 3 pm.
