PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team split a doubleheader in the first NE10 games of the season, defeating Southern New Hampshire University 4-3 in game one, then falling 4-1 in the second game Friday at Pace Softball Field.

Game One: Pace 4, Southern New Hampshire 3
The pitchers were in control early, with neither team getting a baserunner until the bottom of the second. With two out in the inning, freshman Haley Rusbuldt (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) continued her hot streak at the plate, doubling to right field. Freshman left fielder Raelle Gorman (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) then brought her in with an RBI double to center, giving Pace (6-10, 1-1 NE10) a 1-0 lead.

Junior pitcher Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) worked around a two-out single in the third, putting the Penmen (8-10, 1-1 NE10) aside with the Setters still holding the lead.

Pace got a two-out double from freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School), followed by an infield single by senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter). Sophomore first baseman Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) then brought them both in with a two-run double, extending the Setters lead to three.

After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, Pace got a runner to third with two out but was unable to get the run across.

In the fifth, Southern New Hampshire got runners on first and third with one out, and Abby Lineman tied the game with one swing, hitting a three-run homer to left-center to knot the score at 3-3.

Pace had a chance to take back the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but a line drive into the gap off the bat of Shea was caught to end the inning.

The Penmen loaded the bases in the top of the sixth but were turned aside after a flyout. Pace got the leadoff runner on base thanks to a single by junior third baseman Alexandra Tejeda (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar), but Pace was unable to get the go-ahead run across.

SNHU got two runners on with two out in the ninth, but a flyout sent it to the bottom of the seventh still tied, giving the Setters a chance to win it.

Freshman right fielder Willa Poplawski (San Clemente, Calif./JSerra Catholic) led off the inning with a single, but the next three batters were retired, sending the first game of the doubleheader to extras.

The Penmen went down in order in the eighth, and Pace took advantage. Shea walked to start the inning, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt after some heads-up baserunning. Senior catcher Carolina Itturiaga then stepped to the plate and lined a walk-off single to left-center, giving the Setters a 4-3 win in extra innings.
 
Game Two: Pace 11, Southern New Hampshire 6
After SNHU was turned aside in the first, Pace took the lead on a two-out RBI single from Shea, going ahead 1-0 after one.

A leadoff double had the Penmen in business to start the second, and a single put runners on the corners with one out. A fielder's choice loaded the bases, but a force out at the plate and a grounder to second got freshman pitcher Priscilla Del Toro (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) out of trouble and kept it a one-run game.

Pace had an equally good chance to add to its lead in the second, getting runners to second and third with one out. But back-to-back groundouts ended the inning, as the Setters left two stranded.

With two out and nobody on, back-to-back doubles tied the game for the Penmen in the third, as Alyssa DiMauro connected on a run-scoring two bagger for the visitors.

Back-to-back singles started the top of the fourth, and a sac bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out. A squeeze play brought in the go-ahead run, and a walk loaded the bases once again. This time, with junior Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) on the mound, the Setters were again able to get out of it, getting a foul out to limit the damage to one run.

A single, followed by a sac bunt and wild pitch started the inning, getting a runner to third. A walk and stolen base followed, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. However, a force out and popup ended the inning with Pace again leaving runners on base.

With two runners on and one out in the fifth, a flyout and groundout kept it a 2-1 score heading to the bottom of the inning. After the Setters couldn't get the tying run across, SNHU added to its lead in the sixth. After a leadoff single, Bella Dickinson launched a two-run homer to left-center, giving the Penmen a 4-1 lead.

Neither team got any offense going in their next turn at bat, giving the Setters one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. Pace couldn't get the tying runs in, falling 4-1 in game two as each team took one game on the day.

Up Next
The Setters return to field Sunday, March 26, when they host Saint Anselm College in a noon doubleheader.