WILMINGTON, Del. – The Pace University softball team was defeated in the first game of the NCAA Tournament, falling by a 2-1 final to Wilmington University Thursday, May 11.
It was a battle of the pitchers early, as Pace (26-23, 15-9 NE10) sophomore Gisselle Garcia (Lemon Grove, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) and Wilmington's (39-13, 21-3 CACC) Kylee Gunkel were both strong in the early going.
The two pitchers combined for one hit allowed over the first two innings, as both were sharp and kept the opposing batters in check. However, the Wildcats drew first blood in the bottom of the third. After a two-out single, Sara Miller got Wilmington on the board with a two-run homer to centerfield to put the home team ahead 2-0.
After a scoreless fourth, Pace got back into it in the top of the fifth. Sophomore infielder Brianna Shea (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) got things started with a one-out single, and after a fielder's choice, freshman infielder Katerina Luna (Mckinney, Texas/Rock Hill) singled to right-center to put two runners on with two out. Senior outfielder Arianna Guarracino (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) then stepped to the plate and drove an RBI double to left field, getting the Setters on the board and scoring freshman first baseman Riley Jenkins (San Diego, Calif./University City) to make it a 2-1 game.
The pitchers again settled in, with Garcia and Wilmington's Delani Sheehan giving up a combined one baserunner through the bottom of the fifth and sixth, sending the game to the final inning with Pace still trailing 2-1.
A one-out single by Shea and infield hit by Luna with two out kept the game alive, putting the tying run at second base. Guarracino then hit an infield single, but freshman Kaylee Matsuda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Iolani School), who was pinch running on the play, was thrown out at the plate trying to score, ending the game and giving the Wildcats a 2-1 victory.
Up Next
The Setters will now face Franklin Pierce University in an elimination game Thursday, May 12. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
