CALDWELL, N.J. – The Pace University softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader Saturday, April 22 at Caldwell University. The Setters dropped game one 5-4, then fell in the second game by a 7-4 score.
Game One: Caldwell 5, Pace 4
Both pitchers were strong early, as Pace (22-20, 11-7 NE10) picked up just one baserunner over the first two innings. Junior pitcher Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) had a nice start to the day in the first, but Caldwell (31-11) broke through in the second.
A walk and double got two runners in scoring position with one out, and an RBI single from Alexa Lee brought in the first run of the day. A steal gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead, but the Setters were able to turn a double play to limit the damage to two runs.
The Setters loaded the bases with one out in the third, and freshman first baseman Riley Jenkins (San Diego, Calif./University City) tied the game with an RBI single to second base. An error brought in another run on the play, tying the game at two.
Caldwell jumped right back in front in the bottom of the inning, picking up a sacrifice fly from Ashley Tavaska. The Setters came back with two runs in the top of the fifth, getting a pair of RBI singles from juniors Sammi Swenson (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) and Alexandra Tejeda (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) to take a 4-3 lead.
An RBI double in the bottom of the inning evened the score at four, and an error put the Cougars back on top heading to the sixth.
The Setters could only pick up two hits over the final two innings, as Caldwell took a 5-4 victory in game one.
Game Two: Caldwell 7, Pace 4
The Setters jumped in front early in game two, getting a single by senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter) that led to a run after a Caldwell error.
The Cougars got a pair of runners on in the home half of the first, but freshman pitcher Priscilla Del Toro (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) left them stranded to keep it a 1-0 game. Pace added another run in the second, as freshman Haley Rusbuldt (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) launched a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the visitors ahead by two.
Del Toro again worked her way out of trouble in the second, walking the first two batters but setting down the next three to keep it a two-run game.
The Cougars broke through in the bottom of the third, getting an RBI double from Maya Rodriguez and run-scoring single by Tavaska to tie the game. Pace took the lead right back in the top of the fourth, getting a two-out, two-run homer from sophomore first baseman Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) to go ahead 4-2.
Caldwell got two runners on with two out in the bottom of the fifth, as the home team looked to draw even again. But freshman Gia Miccio (Bellmore, N.Y./W.C. Mepham) came on in relief of Del Toro and got a key third out to hold the lead.
The Cougars drew closer in the last of the sixth, getting a base hit followed by a Pace error, which allowed the run to come in and make it a 4-3 game. Caldwell loaded the bases with one out, and a walk forced in the tying run. The next batter grounded out, but the runner on third came in to give the home team the lead. Tavaska then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run single, giving the Cougars a 7-4 lead.
The Setters went down in order in the seventh, as Caldwell closed to win both games of the doubleheader.
Up Next
The Setters return to action Tuesday, April 25, when they are back on the road at Adelphi University for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
