BRIARCLIFF, N.Y.- The Pace Softball team, ranked #10 in the first NCAA East Region Poll, swept the Ravens of Franklin Pierce University 8-0 and 10-2 in five innings for both games in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Setters improve to 26-14 overall and 13-11 in the NE-10, while the Ravens fall to 9-24 and 7-17 in conference play.
In the opener, the Setters used the long ball in the opener as Natalie Gellos (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) hit a two-run homerun in the opening inning, while Samantha Garcia (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) blasted a grand slam homerun in the third inning as Pace built a 7-0 lead. The Setters added a run in the fourth on a Rachael McMahon (Corona, CA/Esperanza) (Corona, CA/Esperanza) single as Pace wrapped up the opener in five innings. Chelsea Shea (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) (Babylon, NY/West Babylon) and Kelly Fisher (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) (Castle Rock, CA/Douglas County) combined on the shut out in the opener. Shea earned the win as she tossed four innings, allowing one hit and struck out six, while Fisher pitched the final inning, allowing two hits and fanned one.
In the nightcap, Hana Wright (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) hit a solo homerun in the second inning for a 1-0 Pace lead but the Ravens answered with a pair of runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Setters got the bats going as Jeane Drury (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic High School) (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic) put the Setters back in the lead 3-2 with a two-run homerun in the third inning. Pace sent all nine batters to the plate in the fourth as they exploded for six runs in the inning. Sabrina Gonzalez (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) (Oxnard, CA/Ventura College) had a big three-run double in the inning, while Drury connected on her second homerun of the day with a two-run shot. McMahon lined an RBI double in the fifth to end the second game in five innings.
For Pace, Drury was 5-for-6 in the twin bill with two homeruns, four RBI's and scored four runs, while Lauren Bell (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) was 3-for-4. Garcia also had a big day, going 3-for-4 with four RBI's and three runs scored. Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) got the start in game two as she went three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out two. Shea (6-4) came on in relief as she picked up two wins on the day, as she tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
The Setters return to action on Tuesday, April 17 as they will host Adelphi University, who is ranked #6 in the East Region, in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Pace's Briarcliff campus at 3 pm.
