PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team took a pair of NE10 contests Sunday, March 26, picking up 4-3 and 7-1 victories over Saint Anselm College at Pace Softball field.

Game One: Pace 4, Saint Anselm 3
The Hawks (11-9, 1-3 NE10) got on the board first, putting two runs across in the second inning. With runners on first and second with two out, Ava Caputo doubled to left center, bringing both runners in to give the visitors an early lead.

The Setters (8-10, 3-1 NE10) got even in the bottom of the inning, as an RBI single by freshman outfielder Raelle Gorman (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) got the first run across, and a sacrifice fly from junior catcher Jenny Gordon (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) tied the game.

Pace took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as with two runners on with two out, freshman outfielder Willa Poplawski (San Clemente, Calif./JSerra Catholic) singled to left, loading the bases. Freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School) then stepped to the plate and drove a two-run double to right field, putting the Setters ahead 4-2.

Saint Anselm was able to get one back in the top of the fifth, as Sam Wiberg connected on a run-scoring single with two outs to narrow the Pace lead to one. The visitors had a chance to tie in the sixth, getting runners to first and second with one out. But junior pitcher Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy), who got the win on the day, worked around trouble, getting a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.

After the Setters went down in order in the sixth, Acevedo got a 1-2-3 seventh with three groundouts to close it out and preserve a 4-3 win. Acevedo went the distance for the fifth time this year, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out four.

Game Two: Pace 7, Saint Anselm 1
Both pitchers had a strong start to game two, as sophomore Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) and Wiberg, who got the start in the late game, allowed a combined three hits through the first three innings. After Saint Anselm took the lead in the third on a sac fly, Pace picked up a pair of hits in the bottom half but couldn't get a run across.

The Hawks went scoreless in the fourth, and the Setters went ahead in their turn at bat. With two out and a runner on second, senior catcher Carolina Itturiaga singled to left, scoring one. Itturiaga then came around to score on an infield single from sophomore outfielder Alexa Borino (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst), putting Pace up by one.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pace took control with a five-run inning. After a single and two walks, Itturiaga walked as well, forcing in a run. With the bases still loaded, freshman infielder Katerina Luna (Mckinney, Texas/Rock Hill) picked up a two-run single, extending the lead to four. Borino then came up and brought in two more with a double, making it a 7-1 lead for the Setters.

Garcia didn't allow a hit the rest of the way, shutting down the Hawks' hitters through the final two innings for a 7-1 Pace victory. She picked up her fourth win of the season, going seven innings while allowing one run on just three hits and striking out five on the day.

Up Next
Pace is back at it Thursday, March 29, when they are at the University of Bridgeport for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.