MANCHESTER, N.H. – Leading 2-1 after six and half, the Pace University softball team allowed a pair of runs in the seventh to fall 3-2 to Southern New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA East Regional on Thursday. The Setters will now play in an elimination game on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Merrimack College.

After going up 2-1 on a two-out RBI single from Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School) in the top of the seventh, the Setters were unable to hold on. The Penmen capitalized off three Pace errors in the bottom half of the inning to walk off with the win.

Sophomore Emma Bernet (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W Baker) served as the hard-luck loser for the Blue and Gold. The right-hander allowed one earned run, while scattering just three hits across 6.1 innings. Bernet, who continues to lead the NE10 with an ERA of 1.14 this season, suffered just her second defeat over her last nine appearances.

The Blue and Gold's offense mustered six hits on the afternoon—two of which came off the bat of Stephanie Wang (Arcadia, CA/Arcadia). Wang scored Pace's first run of the day in the fourth after leading off the frame with a single. She then moved over to third on sac bunt and a ground out before crossing the plate on a Hawks' error to tie the game at 1-1.

Labs drove in Lindsey Ah Soon (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Kamehameha Kapalama) in the seventh after Ah Soon led off the inning with a single to right field and moved over on a bunt single from Briana Ryan (Wilmington, Calif./Carson).

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The Setters will now need a victory against Merrimack on Friday afternoon to keep their season alive. Pace defeated the Warriors in the first round of the NE10 Tournament last week, 3-1.