PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team picked up a pair of victories Wednesday, April 5. The Setters defeated Queens College 5-0 in game one of their doubleheader, then came from behind for a 3-1 victory in game two.

Game One: Pace 5, Queens 0

Both pitchers were in command early, with sophomore pitcher Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) striking out the side in the second and not allowing a hit through the first four innings.

The Setters (11-13, 3-3 NE10) drew a pair of one out walks in the bottom of the second, and freshman outfielder Willa Poplawski (San Clemente, Calif./JSerra Catholic) followed it up by driving in the first run of the game with an RBI single to put Pace ahead 1-0. A walk loaded the bases with two out, and freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School) came through with a two-run single to make it a 3-0 lead.

Pace continued to add runs in the inning, as freshman second baseman Sophie Valle (Chino, Calif./Walnut) came to bat and lined a two RBI double to right center, giving the home team a five-run advantage after two.

Garcia continued to roll through the third and fourth, allowing just one baserunner and no hits. The Setters got baserunners on in both innings but couldn't get anybody across to extend the lead.

The Knights (6-20) got their first two hits of the day in the fifth and got runners to the corners with one out, but a strikeout-throw out double play ended the inning as Garcia worked out of trouble.

Pace got the first two batters on in the fifth, but again left runners stranded as Queens held them off the board. Garcia worked around a two-out single in the sixth, striking out three in the inning to keep it a five-run game.

After the Setters couldn't add to the lead in the home half of the sixth, Garcia locked it down in the seventh, finishing things off as Pace took a 5-0 win in game one.

Matsuda and Valle each had one hit and two RBI, while Garcia went the distance, going seven innings and allowing no runs on three hits while striking out 14 batters.

Game Two: Pace 3, Queens 1

The Knights got a runner to second with one out in the first, and a single looked like it would give them the early lead. But sophomore outfielder Alexa Borino (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) threw a strike from right field to throw the runner out at the plate and keep the game scoreless.

Junior Anna Acevedo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy) settled in after allowing two hits in the first, setting down the Knights in order while picking up a pair of strikeouts in the second. After the Setters went down 1-2-3 in the home half, Acevedo continued to pitch well, once again keeping the Knights off the board.

In the top of the fourth, Queens got a runner to third with one out, but the Setters were able to catch her in a rundown on a squeeze play to keep the game a 0-0 tie.

Myaisha Kelly continued to roll on the mound for the Knights, putting Pace down in order for the third time while allowing just one baserunner through the first four innings.

Queens threatened again in the fifth, as a walk and stolen base put a runner at second. A bunt single then put runners on the corners with nobody out, and Diana Budakowski drove in the first run of game two with a sacrifice fly. With runners on first and second with one out, the Setters were able to turn a double play to send the game to the bottom of the fifth trailing by only one run.

A one-out single by freshman Haley Rusbuldt (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) got Pace started in the fifth, and junior catcher Jenny Gordon (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) tied the game with an RBI triple down the right field line to even the score at 1-1 as the Setters finally broke through on Kelly. Borino then stepped to the plate and made another impact play, this one with her bat. The sophomore singled up the middle, bringing in Gorman and putting the home team ahead 2-1 heading to the sixth.

After Acevedo put the Knights down in order, Pace got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter) hit her third home run of the year, blasting one over the left-centerfield fence to extend the lead to 3-1 heading to the final inning.

Acevedo then had another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, closing out a doubleheader sweep as Pace took game two by a 3-1 final.

Rusbuldt had two hits in game two, while Pederson, Borino and Gordon picked up one RBI apiece. Acevedo went seven innings for the Setters, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four.

Up Next

The Setters resume NE10 play Friday, April 7, when they host American International College in a doubleheader at Pace Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.