CLERMONT, Fla. – The Pace University softball team shouldered a 4-2 loss to West Chester University of Pennsylvania Sunday afternoon in the Setters' 2017 season opener down in Clermont, Fla., in their first day of competition at the PFX Spring Games.
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st – West Chester
- Right fielder Bri Garber opened the game with a single, and then center fielder Sarah Walasavage walked to put two runners on.
- With the runners on second and third with one away, catcher Cat Hammer singled up the middle, bringing in both runners to put the Golden Rams ahead 2-0 right off the bat.
Top 2nd – West Chester
- Second baseman Sara Ercolani picked up an RBI after drawing a walk with the bases loaded, making it a 3-0 lead for West Chester early in the game.
Bottom 5th –
Pace
- With two away, junior left fielder
Tara Bernstein (Glen Oaks, NY/Bayside High School) singled through the left side to keep the inning going.
- Junior shortstop
Ashley Lew (New City, NY/Clarkstown High School North) then drew a walk to get two runners on for the Setters.
- Pace then took advantage of a defensive miscue by West Chester, as senior second baseman
Haley Hernandez (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) hit a grounder to second that was misplayed, allowing Bernstein to score from second and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Top 6th – West Chester
- With a runner on third, Hammer singled up the middle, bringing another run around to score for the Golden Rams to give them a 4-1 advantage.
Bottom 6th – Pace
- Senior designated hitter
Samantha Lima (Brawley, CA/Saddleback College) and sophomore first baseman
Annie Carberry (Colorado Springs, CO/Pine Creek) opened the home half of the sixth with back-to-back singles, placing runners on first and third.
- Freshman
Jillian Gartner (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) came on to pinch run for Carberry, and immediately stole second, causing an errant throw by the catcher that moved her up to third and allowed Lima to score and get Pace within two runs at 4-2.
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Amanda Houck (5-2)
Loss:
Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) (0-1)
Pitching Notes
- Senior starter
Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) allowed three runs across 2.2 innings of work in her first outing of 2017.
- West Chester starter Amanda Houck went the distance, allowing two unearned runs on six hits across seven frames.
- Freshman pitcher
Emma Bernet (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W Baker) tossed the final 4.1 innings for Pace, yielding just one run on five hits while striking out two and not walking a batter.
SETTER STATS
- Bernstein went 2-for-2 with a run scored, also reaching on a hit-by-pitch.
- Junior center fielder
Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School) batted 2-for-3.
- Lima hit 1-for-2 with a run scored and a sacrifice bunt.
- Carberry went 1-for-3, and Gartner stole a base after pinch running for Carberry in the sixth.
GOLDEN RAM LEADERS
- Hammer hit 3-for-4 with three RBIs for West Chester.
- Walasavage batted 1-for-2 with two runs and three stolen bases.
- Garber went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 0-1
West Chester: 8-4
UP NEXT:
- The Setters continue play at the PFX Softball Games on Monday, March 13, when they take on Dominican College in a doubleheader at Legends Way 1. Game 1 is set to begin at 8 a.m.
For all information regarding Pace University softball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics) and follow Pace Softball on Twitter (
@Pace_Softball) and on Instagram (
@Pace_Softball).
