PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team won its third and fourth straight games Friday, April 7, picking up a pair of victories over American International College in NE10 play. The Setters won game one 7-0, then prevailed 10-2 in the late game.

Game One: Pace 7, AIC 0

After the Yellow Jackets (4-24, 1-7 NE10) went down quickly in the first, the Setters (13-13, 5-3 NE10) got on the board with two out in the bottom of the inning. Following a walk, sophomore first baseman Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) connected on a single to put two runners on. Freshman third baseman Katerina Luna (Mckinney, Texas/Rock Hill) then stepped to the plate and drove a two-run double to left field, giving Pace the early lead.

The home team picked up a pair of two-out singles in the home half of the second and were again able to rally with two down. Freshman second baseman Sophie Valle (Chino, Calif./Walnut) singled to right-center to score a run, followed by a two RBI double by senior outfielder Gwen Pederson (Sylmar, Calif./Granada Hills Charter) to extend the lead to 5-0. Shea then kept it going, knocking a run-scoring single to centerfield to put Pace up by six after two innings.

Sophomore pitcher Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) continued to roll in the third, again keeping AIC off the board while allowing just one hit through the first five innings.

Senior catcher Carolina Iturriaga (North Hills, Calif./Grover Cleveland) led off the third with a double, but the Setters couldn't get the run home, leaving one stranded as the lead stayed at six. After another 1-2-3 inning for Garcia, Pace had a chance to add to the lead but were turned aside. A single and error put runners on first and second with one out, but a groundout followed by a caught stealing attempt ended the scoring threat.

However, the Setters were able to push one across in the fifth. After an error allowed her to reach second, Luna came in to score on an RBI groundout by junior Alexandra Tejeda (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar), making it a 7-0 score.

Garcia worked around a two-out single in the sixth, keeping the Yellow Jackets off the board. After Pace failed to score in the bottom of the inning, Garcia recorded the final three outs to cap off a dominant performance as Pace took game one by a score of 7-0.

Valle, Shea and freshman shortstop Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School) all had two hits on the day, with Valle and Shea picking up one RBI each. Pederson and Luna each had one hit and two runs driven in, and Garcia pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out 13 batters.

Game Two: Pace 10, AIC 2

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early lead, getting two singles to put runners on first and third with one out. A stolen base put both runners in scoring position, and a two-out single by Kodi Gora brought them in to put AIC ahead 2-0.

A walk and single got Pace going in the second, and freshman Haley Rusbuldt (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) then reached base to bring in a run. Sophomore outfielder Alexa Borino (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) followed it up with an RBI single to tie the game at two, but the Setters got caught stealing to end the inning.

After the Setters turned a double play to get out of the top of the third, Valle got Pace started with a triple in the home half of the inning. Pederson then brought her in with a sacrifice fly, putting the Setters ahead 3-2. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases, and freshman outfielder Raelle Gorman (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) cleared them with one swing of the bat, driving a bases-clearing double to centerfield to extend Pace's lead to 6-2.

The Setters continued to pile on the two out runs, as Gorman came in to score on an RBI single by Borino. Freshman infielder Riley Jenkins (San Diego, Calif./University City) then continued the inning for Pace, lining a run-scoring double down the left field line to score Borino and give the home team an 8-2 lead after three.

Pederson led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and came in to score on a sac fly from Shea to make it a 9-2 game, and the Setters then put it away in the bottom of the fifth, as an RBI single off the bat of Borino scored junior catcher Jenny Gordon (Colonia, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) to give Pace the victory at 10-2.

In game two, Borino led the way with three hits and three RBI, while Gorman had one hit, driving in four. Acevedo picked up the win, going five innings while allowing two runs on four hits.

Up Next

Pace is back at it tomorrow, Saturday April 7, when they continue NE10 play with a home doubleheader against Assumption University. First pitch is scheduled for noon.