SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Pace University softball team kicked off the 2018 season on Sunday with a split in their season opener doubleheader against the Academy of Art. The Setters are now 1-1 to begin the new campaign.

Inside the Numbers
*The Setters were led by strong outings from their starting pitchers on Sunday. Freshman MacKenzie Garrick (South River, NJ/South River) picked up her first win as a member of the Blue and Gold with a complete game shutout in Game Two of the doubleheader. Garrick allowed nine hits and two walks while striking out one in seven innings of work to lead Pace to a 1-0 victory.
 
*Emma Bernet (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W Baker), who led the Setters with a team-low 2.70 ERA a season ago, picked up where she left off in her rookie campaign. The sophomore righthander went a full six innings in Sunday's opener, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out two.

*Senior Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School), getting the start at centerfield in both games, led the Setters with a 2-for-6 day at the plate. The California native legged out a triple in the second game of the doubleheader.

*Emma Schafer (Mission Viejo, CA/El Toro) collected Pace's first RBI of the season, driving in Tara Bernstein (Glen Oaks, NY/Bayside High School) in the 4^th inning of Game Two to score the only run of the game.

Game One Recap – Academy of Art 1, Pace 0
The first of two Sunday pitcher's duels, the Setters offense was stymied by the Urban Knights' Brooke Larsen. Labs opened up the game with a leadoff single, but Pace was unable to collect any hits for the rest of the game.
 
After Bernet worked around leadoff singles in the first and second innings, the Urban Knights capitalized on a leadoff walk in the third. Bernet was able to retire the next two batters, but a single off the bat of Gabi Hirsch drove in Dom Seva'aetasi to put the Urban Knights up 1-0.

The Setters came close to tying up the score in the top of the fourth, with Lindsey Ah Soon (Ewa Beach, HI/Kamehameha Kapalama) advancing to third on a two out wild pitch, but Pace was unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunity.

Bernet only allowed one more baserunner over her final three innings on the mound. Larsen was equally as dominant for the Urban Knights, however, as the Setters could not get another runner on base after their threat in the fourth inning, giving the Academy of Art the 1-0 win in the opener.

Game Two Recap – Pace 1, Academy of Art 0
Pitching continued to dominate in the backend of Sunday, as Garrick impressed in her collegiate debut. The freshman righty worker her way out of all trouble she faced throughout the seven innings of her start.
 
Garrick's first challenge came in the second after a leadoff single. The Urban Knights collected another single two batters later, but a relay from Stephanie Wang (Arcadia, CA/Arcadia) in left field gunned down the runner at home to keep the Academy of Art off the scoreboard.

After working around baserunners again in the third inning, the Setters rewarded Garrick with a run in the top of fourth. Bernstein led off the inning with a walk, advancing to third two batters later. Schafer capitalized on the runner in scoring position, reaching on a fielder's choice as Bernstein scored. The 1-0 lead would prove to be plenty for Garrick to work with.

Garrick's biggest challenge came in the bottom of the sixth as the Urban Knights collected back-to-back singles with one out. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, the Academy of Art loaded the bases with two away. Showing her grit on the mound, Garrick induced a lineout to escape the jam and hold the Urban Knights scoreless. After surrendering a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, Garrick retired the next three batters to secure the 1-0 victory for the Blue and Gold.

Up Next
Pace's California roadtrip resumes on Tuesday. The Setters will play two against Holy Names University beginning at 4 p.m.