MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Pace University softball team had its season come to an end on Friday afternoon courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Merrimack College in an elimination game of the NCAA East Regional.

The Setters, who earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship following a terrific finish to the season, wrap up the year with a record of 27-22.

Sophomore Emma Bernet (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W Baker), who put together one of the best pitching seasons in recent memory, tossed another stellar game on Friday. The right-hander scattered just three hits for the second-straight contest, and finished the season with a stout 1.14 ERA.

Merrimack's lone run came in the bottom of the first inning off a solo home run from Nicole Nanof. The Warriors only other real offensive threat came in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out. Bernet, however, was able to escape the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

Despite outhitting the Warriors, 6-3, the Blue and Gold were unable to put any runs on the board. Briana Ryan (Wilmington, CA/Carson) and Ashley Lew (New City, NY/Clarkstown High School North) each finished the game 2-for-3, while Larissa Labs (Carlsbad, CA/San Marcos High School) and Niyah Brown (Chino, CA/Chino Hills) also added hits.

The Setters, who left eight runners on base in the contest, enjoyed their best scoring opportunity in the second. After reaching on a single and moving over to second on a hit from Lew, Ryan was thrown out at home to end the inning following a Labs single to left.