SAN LEANDRO, CA- The Setters fell short to the Holy Names Hawks 5-4 in nine innings and 4-1 in non-conference action. Pace drops to 1-5 overall, while Holy Names improves to 10-25 on the season.
The Setters got on the board in the third inning of game one as Shelby Yung (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA/Upland) led off with a double and came around to score on a triple by Hana Wright (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic). Nikole Larm (Brewster, NY/Brewster) (Brewster, NY/Brewster) doubled later in the inning to drive in Wright for a 2-0 Pace lead.
The Hawks cut the lead in half in the fourth but the Setters added to their lead in the fifth. Larm led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a ground out. Natalie Gellos (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) drove in Larm with a single and a 3-1 Pace lead.
Holy Names got a run back in their half of the fifth but Pace answered in the sixth. Lana Buchbinder (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) led off the inning with a double and scored on a Yung single for a 4-2 Setter lead.
Holy Names rallied in the seventh with a pair of runs to tie the game at four and force extra innings. After a scoreless eighth, the Hawks pushed across the game-winning run in the ninth to take game one.
On the mound, Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) tossed 8 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits to fall to 1-2 on the season. On offense, Yung went 4-for-5, while Larm went 3-for-5.
In the nightcap, Holy Names took the early lead with two runs in the first and two more in the fifth. Pace got their lone run of the game as Larm doubled with one out. Haley Hernandez (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) followed with a double to score Larm.
On the hill, Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) tossed a complete game, allowing four runs on eight hits, while striking out eight to fall to 0-3 on the season.
The Setters continue their West Coast trip as they travel to Sonoma State University on Wednesday, March 19 for a twin bill at 4 pm EDT.
