BRIARCLIFF, N.Y. – The Setters belted 23 hits to earn a pair of victories over NE-10 Southwest rival Southern Connecticut. Pace took the first game 9-5 before winning the nightcap 6-4. Following the win, the Setters advance to 16-8, 8-4 NE-10 Southwest while the Owls fall to 11-12, 4-5 NE-10 Southwest.

In the opening game, the Setters struck first when they knocked in a quartet of runs in the second frame, all with two outs. Ashley Lew got the rally going when she was clunked by a pitch to give the Setters a baserunner. After an Amanda Limon single gave Pace runners at first and second, freshman Tara Bernstein knocked a base hit up the middle to plate the first run. Now with runners at second and third, sophomore Shelby Yung took to the plate and blasted a double to left center, scoring two. Larissa Labs put the finishing touches on the key rally when she cranked an RBI-single to left center, giving Pace a 4-0 lead.

Junior Caitlin McCann was on the rubber and shut the Owls down in the first three innings, allowing just two hits.

After Southern Connecticut tacked on a pair of runs, Pace answered with a trio of their own in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two down, senior Jeane Drury sent a single to right field to plate a runner. Next up was Surina Sandhu who scored a pair of base runners when she crushed a 2-RBI single up the middle.

Southern Connecticut added three runs between the fifth and sixth innings, but Drury once again put her stamp on the game in the bottom of the sixth when she belted a solo homerun to left field. Pinch hitter Nikole Larm took the plate with two outs and connected on a single to right field to score another runner for the Setters.

After McCann set the Owls down in order in the seventh, the Setters won 9-5.

At the dish, Drury led Pace, going 2-4 with a run scored and two RBIs, one on the solo jack. Limon went 3-3 with a pair of runs while Sandhu and Yung each recorded a pair of RBIs.

On the hill, McCann (6-3) finished her day with six innings tossed, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Kaitlynn Nelson tossed one inning and allowed one earned run.

During the late slate, freshman hurler Jaclyn Flores got the start and shutout the Owls in the game's opening two frames.

The Setters' bats exploded in the bottom of the second frame for a five-run outburst. After Larm drew a walk, Lew beat out a bunt single. Limon was clunked by a pitch on the next at bat, loading up the bases for Pace. The first run of the rally scored during the next at bat when the Southern Connecticut pitcher committed an illegal pitch. The next batter, Bernstein, drew a walk to once again load the bases. The free pass was followed by an RBI fielder's choice by Yung that scored a second run on a throwing error. Labs put an end to the monster rally when she absolutely hammered a homerun to dead center field.

After the Owls added two runs in each of the next two innings, the Setters responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Larm led off the inning with a single to the shortstop and was immediately bumped over to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Lew hit a single to the pitcher, and Limon was hit by a pitch, the Setters once again had the bases loaded. Bernstein plated the run when she cranked an RBI-single to right field to give Pace a 6-4 lead.

Flores locked down the win for the Setters in the seventh inning. She set the Owls down in order, adding a pair of strikeouts to preserve the victory.

Labs went 1-4 at the plate with a run scored and a pair of RBIs, both via the longball. Larm went 3-3 with a pair of runs scored while Yung and Bernstein each contributed RBIs.

Flores (4-2) earned the win after tossing a complete game, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with a trio of strikeouts.

Pace returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 15^th when they travel to West Haven, Conn. for a doubleheader against NE-10 rival New Haven at 3:00 p.m.