COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Pace University softball team continued to roll Sunday, April 16, as the Setters took both games of their doubleheader at Saint Michael's College. Pace won game one 6-0, then prevailed 5-3 in the second game. The Setters have now won 12 of their last 14 games and have moved up to third place in the NE10.

Game One: Pace 6, Saint Michael's 0

Pace (21-15, 11-5 NE10) got on the board right away in game one, getting a leadoff single from freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School). She came in to score on an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Jade Alvarado (West Covina, Calif./South Hills), who had four hits and three RBI for the Setters in game one.

After the Pace left one runner stranded in the second, the visitors added another run in the third. After a one-out walk by junior Sammi Swenson (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) and single by Alvarado put runners on first and third with two out, a double steal brought Swenson in with the second run of the game.

Sophomore pitcher Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) had another dominant pitching performance for the Setters on Sunday. After falling just short of a no-hitter against Franklin Pierce University Saturday afternoon, the sophomore came right back with a complete-game two hit shutout on Sunday. She allowed no runs, walked just one, and struck out 13 Saint Michael's (10-20, 3-11 NE10) batters.

Pace got one more run in the sixth, as Alvarado led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Senior outfielder Arianna Guarracino (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) came on as a pinch runner, and with two out, senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter) drove her in with an RBI single to right field to make it a 3-0 game.

The Setters broke it open in the seventh, adding three more runs to extend their lead to 6-0. With runners on first and second with two out, Alvarado struck once again, delivering the big blow with a two-run double to left center to put Pace ahead by five. Freshman Haley Rusbuldt (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) then came up as a pinch hitter and brought in Alvarado, singling up the middle for an RBI hit to make it a 6-0 game.

Garcia then finished it off with another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Setters the victory in game one.

Game Two: Pace 5, Saint Michael's 3

After a leadoff single and sac bunt put Matsuda on second base with one out, freshman Willa Poplawski (San Clemente, Calif./JSerra Catholic) drove her in with an RBI single to get the Setters on the board. Then with two out, an error brought in the second run of the inning to give Pace a 2-0 lead.

The Purple Knights had a chance to get on the board in the bottom of the second, getting a pair of runners on with one out. But junior Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) worked out of it, getting a popup and strikeout to end the inning.

Pace tacked on a run in the third, as Matsuda started the inning with her second hit of the game, driving a leadoff double to left. She moved to third after a single by freshman second baseman Sophie Valle (Chino, Calif./Walnut), then came in on a double steal to put the Setters ahead 3-0.

Saint Michael's came storming back in the bottom of the third, putting up three runs to tie the game. After a pair of walks started the inning, Jenna Devens connected on a two-run double to pull the home team within one. Meghan Connor followed up with her own RBI double, scoring Devens to knot the score at 3-3.

Pace came right back, adding two runs in the top of the fifth to go back in front. Sophomore first baseman Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) led off the inning with a single, then Matsuda reached on an error, which put her on third base and brought in a run as the Setters took a 4-3 lead. Valle then picked up Matsuda from third, driving her in with an RBI single to center to make it a 5-3 game.

After the Purple Knights got runners to second and third with two out, Garcia came on in relief and got a key groundout to strand the pair of baserunners and keep the Setters in front.

Pace picked up only one hit the rest of the way, but Garcia was able to close it out. The sophomore didn't allow a baserunner over the final two innings, picking up the save as the Setters took a 5-3 win in game two.

Matsuda and Valle each had a pair of hits in game two, while Valle and Poplawski each drove in one run.

Up Next

Pace is back on the road Wednesday, April 19, when they travel to the University of New Haven for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.