CLERMONT, Fla. – Senior starting pitcher
Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) and the Pace University softball team both had big bounce-back games in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against Merrimack College at Legends Way 4 as part of the PFX Spring Games. The Setters fell in Game 1, 9-0, but turned things around to pick up a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's finale. Both contests were played as non-conference games.
GAME 1: MERRIMACK 9, PACE 0 (5 INNINGS)
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st – Merrimack
- An RBI double by catcher Caitlin McBride and a three-run homer for designated player Haley Currie put the Warriors ahead, 4-0.
Top 2nd – Merrimack
- First baseman Alyssa Williamson provided a two-RBI single, and then Currie brought in a run on a fielder's choice to make it a 7-0 game.
Top 5th – Merrimack
- Two runs scored when left fielder Mariah Tenney reached on an error to reach the 9-0 final score.
GAME 1 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Megan Cook (2-1)
Loss:
Emma Bernet (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W Baker) (1-1)
GAME 2: PACE 2, MERRIMACK 1
SCORING PLAYS
Top 4th – Pace
- Junior shortstop
Ashley Lew (New City, NY/Clarkstown High School North) stroked a big triple to right to lead off the fourth.
- She was quickly brought in when freshman second baseman
Emma Carruth (Torrance, CA/Beverly Hills) hit a sac fly to right, putting Pace ahead, 1-0.
- Freshman designated player
Jillian Gartner (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and sophomore first baseman
Annie Carberry (Colorado Springs, CO/Pine Creek) hit back-to-back singles, and were then both moved over on a groundout.
- With two away, freshman center fielder
Stephanie Wang (Arcadia, CA/Arcadia) roped a single into center, scoring Gartner from third to give the Setters a 2-0 lead.
Bottom 5th – Merrimack
- Merrimack scored its only run of the game in odd fashion in Wednesday's finale.
- With a runner on second, shortstop Tiffany Mangiameli hit a ground to the infield, which was thrown to third, where Tenney was able to beat the throw. Mangiameli took a wide turn around first, and got herself into a rundown, allowing Tenney to take off for home and score to cut the deficit in half.
GAME 2 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Kaitlynn Nelson (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) (1-2)
Loss: Megan Cook (2-2)
Pitching Notes
- After dropping her first two decisions of the season, Nelson bounced back to throw seven solid innings for the win. She struck out five batters and allowed just three hits and one run.
- Merrimack starter Megan Cook took the loss in Wednesday's second game after giving up both Setter runs in the fourth. She went 3.1 frames and yielded three hits.
GAME 2 SETTER STATS
- Wang went 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI single.
- Carruth hit 1-for-2, including an RBI sacrifice fly.
- Lew hit 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.
- Garnet batted 1-for-3 with a run.
GAME 2 WARRIOR LEADERS
- Tenney went 1-for-1 with a run.
- Currie hit 1-for-3.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 3-4
Merrimack: 9-5
UP NEXT:
- The Setters will get a day off on Thursday before they continue play at the PFX Spring Games on Friday, March 17, when they take on Southern Connecticut State University in a pair of Northeast-10 Conference matchups at Legends Way 3. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.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).
