WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior catcher
Nikole Larm (Brewster, NY/Brewster) provided the game-winning two-RBI single in the top of the 12th, helping lead the Pace University softball team to a 5-4 extra-inning victory in Game 1 of Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader against Northeast-10 Conference Southwest-Division rival University of New Haven at the New Haven Softball Field. Due to the length of the game, Game 2 was postponed, and will be played as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 11, at Pace Field.
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st – Pace
- Junior shortstop
Ashley Lew (New City, NY/Clarkstown High School North) opened the game with a walk, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
- Back-to-back ground outs by senior second baseman
Haley Hernandez (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) and junior center fielder
Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School) each advanced Lew, bringing her in to score to give Pace an early 1-0 advantage.
Bottom 3rd – New Haven
- Second baseman Gabby DeLeo led off with a double down the left-field line, and scored later in the inning on another double by left fielder Catherine Vaughan, tying the game at 1-1.
Top 4th – Pace
- Freshman designated player
Emma Schafer (Mission Viejo, CA/El Toro) drew a walk with one away, and then sophomore third baseman
Lindsey Ah Soon (Ena Beach, HI/Kamehameha Kapalama) was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on for Larm.
- Larm took advantage of the situation, singling into center to bring in Schafer and put the Setters ahead, 2-1.
Bottom 7th – New Haven
- Right fielder Tori Schiebe doubled to lead off the seventh, and was sacrificed over to third by catcher Erin Stever.
- DeLeo then hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Schiebe to tie the game and eventually send it to extra innings.
Top 11th – Pace
- Neither team was able to score a run until the 11th inning.
- Freshman left fielder
Stephanie Wang (Arcadia, CA/Arcadia) was placed on second as part of the international tiebreaker rule that begins in the 10th inning.
- Lew sacrificed her over to third, and then Hernandez brought her in on a groundout to give Pace a 3-2 lead.
Bottom 11th – New Haven
- Shortstop Julie Devlin started the inning on second base, and was immediately bunted over to third.
- She was then brought in to score on a sacrifice bunt by designated player Marissa Colby, tying the game at 3-3.
Top 12th – Pace
- Labs began the inning on second for Pace, and a bunt single by junior right fielder
Jordan Chillinsky (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad High School) put runners on the corners without an out.
- Chillinsky then stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
- Later, with two outs, Larm roped a single to center, scoring both runners to put the Setters ahead, 5-3.
Bottom 12th – New Haven
- Schiebe started on second, and Stever led off the inning reaching on a hit-by-pitch.
- A wild pitch moved both runners over, and another hit-by-pitch loaded the bases.
- A sacrifice fly to center by center fielder Sierra Whitlock scored Schiebe to get the Chargers within a run with just one out.
- A grounder to third got the lead runner for the second out, and then a grounder back to junior pitcher
Jaclyn Flores (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual High School) got her out of trouble and locked up the win for Pace.
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Jaclyn Flores (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual High School) (4-3)
Loss: Megan Butts (10-3)
Pitching Notes
- Flores took over in the seventh, and turned in 5.2 hitless innings of relief without allowing an earned run. She also struck out three batters.
- New Haven starter Megan Butts went the complete 12 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits with four walks.
SETTER STATS
- Larm batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs and the game-winning two-RBI single in the 12th.
- Chillinsky had the only other Pace hit, going 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.
- Lew walked twice, scored a run and swiped a bag in the win.
CHARGER LEADERS
- DeLeo hit 1-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI.
- Left fielder Catherine Vaughn batted 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Schiebe scored a run after going 1-for-5.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 11-7 (5-1 NE10, 5-1 SW)
New Haven: 16-7 (5-2 NE10, 2-2 SW)
UP NEXT:
- The Setters return home to take on Chestnut Hill College in a non-conference doubleheader at Pace Field. Game 1 is set to begin at 3 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).
