BRIARCLIFF, N.Y.- The Setters blasted six homeruns, with five coming in the nightcap, as Pace swept past the Skyhawks of Stonehill College. Pace took the opener 4-3 and rolled in game two 15-7 in six innings. The Setters are off to their first start in program history as they improve to 19-5 overall and 7-3 in the Northeast-10, while the Skyhawks fall to 13-5 and 6-4 in conference.
In the opener, the Setters struck in the opening inning as Sabrina Gonzalez (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) reached on an error and Hana Wright (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) blasted a homerun for a 2-0 Pace lead. The Skyhawks scored a run in the third inning but Wright extended the Setter lead with an RBI double.
Stonehill added a run in the fourth but Pace answered in the sixth with an RBI single by Natalie Gellos (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy). The Skyhawks added a run in the seventh but Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) closed the door on the rally as Pace took game one 4-3. Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) continued her strong season on the hill as she tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, while striking out one to improve to 6-2 on the season. Shea picked up her second save of the season as she came on for the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits.
In the nightcap, the Setters blasted their way to victory with 19 hits as they used a four-run first inning to take an early lead. Lauren Bell (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) had a two-run homerun in the inning. Stonehill tied the score at four with a run in the second and three in the third. The Setters answered in the bottom of third as Rachael McMahon (Corona, CA/Esperanza) (Corona, CA/ Esperanza) put the Setter ahead with an RBI double, while Lana Buchbinder (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) blasted a two run homerun in the inning.
Pace continued to add on to their lead Jeane Drury (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic High School) (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic) launched a two-run homerun in the fourth inning, while Buchbinder hit her second homerun of the game with a grand slam in the sixth inning.
For Pace in game two, Buchbinder went 2-for-4 with six RBI's, while Drury went 3-for-4 with four RBI's. Bell collected three RBI's in the game as well. Kelly Fisher (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) went three innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits, while striking out two. Colby Hochmuth (Delanson, NY/ Duanesburg) improved to 4-0 as she came on for the final three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
The Setters are back in action on Sunday, April 1 when Pace will host Bentley University in a Northeast-10 Conference twin bill on the Briarcliff campus at 12 pm.
