PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Gisselle Garcia etched her name in Pace softball history as she became the program's career strikeout leader in game one of Pace's doubleheader sweep of Dominican University (N.Y.). A record that stood untouched since 2005 (previously held by Angela Locsin), Garcia now stands alone atop the Pace strikeouts leaders reaching 481 total in her career.
Game One
In the first game of the twin bill, the Setters made an early statement behind three first-inning runs. Alexa Borino, Raelle Gorman, and Riley Jenkins all knocked in a run in the inning to push the Setters ahead 3-0. In the top of the second inning, Garcia reached the historic Pace milestone with her third strikeout of the game.
Kaylee Matsuda added to the Setters lead with a two-RBI single, to give Pace a 5-0 advantage. Pace cruised the rest of the way, to earn their eighth win of the year, by a final score of 6-0.
Garcia, the nation's leader in strikeouts per seven innings (13.1 K/7) continues to dominate on the mound in her junior year for the Blue and Gold. On the day, she allowed no runs, and one hit in five innings, while striking out seven hitters.
Four different Setters had two hits in the contest. Matsuda went 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBIs while Borino, Jenkins, and Brianna Shea also tallied two hits each.
Game Two
The second game of the day was a much different story than the first as the Setters needed extra innings to complete the doubleheader sweep. In the back-and-forth affair, Pace found themselves down by one run, 3-2, in the seventh inning after Giovanna Salcido hit her second home run of the game.
The Blue and Gold would not go down without a fight, and with a pitch-hit single from Garcia in the bottom of the seventh the Setters forced extra innings in an eventful home opener at the Pace Softball Field.
To start the eighth, Dominican knocked a single to center field to take the lead back, 4-3, in the seesaw battle. With their backs against the wall, the Setters needed a rally in the bottom half of the eighth inning.
With a bunt single from Gorman, Pace brought around a run to tie the game at 4. The next batter, Shea, bunted to advance Gorman over to third base leaving the Setters just 60 feet from victory. Jenkins then delivered the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field to force home the deciding run. In a game that was tied on four separate occasions, the Setters were able to come away with the hard-fought win against Dominican, 5-4.
Gorman went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Garcia and Jenkins also brought home a run each. On the mound Anna Acevedo tossed seven innings, striking out three batters while Alyssa Smart earned her first career win on the mound.
Up Next
Sunday afternoon, the Setters continue their season with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against the University of Bridgeport.
