ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY- Jeane Drury (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic High School) (Flanders, NJ/Morris Catholic) drove in a pair of runs in game two as the Setters split the Molloy Lions in a nonconference doubleheader. The Lions took the opener 3-1, while Pace rallied to take game two 4-3. Pace are now 15-19 overall, while Molloy stands at 20-15.
In the opener, Molloy used the long ball for all three of their runs with a two-run homerun in the third and a solo shot in the sixth. The Setters got their run in the sixth as Hana Wright (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) (Hillsboro, OR/Valley Catholic) doubled with two outs. Samantha Garcia (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga) followed with a single for the lone Pace run in the opener.
Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) went the distance, allowing three runs on three hits, while striking out four as she falls to 5-8 on the season. Garcia went 2-for-2 in the game, while Shelby Yung (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA/Upland) went 2-for-4.
In the nightcap, Molloy took an early lead with a run in the first inning. The Setters battled back in the fifth as Victoria Quinones (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) drew a leadoff walk and Lana Buchbinder (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) (San Francisco, CA/George Washington) singled to put runners at first and second. The runners advanced on a passed ball and Drury put the Setters in the lead with a two-run single.
The Lions tied the game with a solo homerun in the sixth but the Setters rallied in the seventh. Buchbinder led off with a double for the lone hit of the inning. Yung walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Drury was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Natalie Gellos (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) drew a bases loaded walk to put the Setters in the lead and two batters later, Garcia also walked to put Pace up 4-2. Molloy got a run back in their half of the seventh but Caitlin McCann (San Mateo, CA/Notre Dame) closed the door on a comeback, leaving the tying run stranded at second base to end the game.
For the Setters, Buchbinder went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Drury drove in a pair of runs. McCann (9-9) evened her record on the season, tossing a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out three.
The Setters are back in action on Tuesday, April 22 as the host Southern Connecticut in a key Northeast-10 Southwest Division game starting at 4 pm.
