PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Saint Michael's College was no match for the Pace University softball team as the Setters took both games of the Friday doubleheader. Game one finished with a 5-0 final while game two ended 5-2. Following the doubleheader, the Blue and Gold move to 13-5 overall, and 2-0 within the Northeast-10.
Game One
Reining Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Week, Gisselle Garcia took the mound and had her usual productive outing for the Setters. The junior allowed only one hit in six innings of work while striking out ten batters.
At the plate, Pace jumped ahead early off a three-run homer from Brianna Shea to snag a 3-0 lead over the visitors. Garcia added to her strikeout total in the top half of the second inning, retiring three batters on strikes. The Setters utilized their momentum on the mound and transferred it to their bats in the bottom of the inning.
With a Jade Alvarado RBI single to center field, the Setters extended their lead to 4-0 in the second. Later on in the fourth inning, Alvarado produced another RBI with a single up the middle. After four innings, the Setters held a 5-0 advantage over Saint Michael's.
Garcia cruised the rest of the way as the Setters shut out the Saint Michael's offense in a 5-0 effort. The win marked Pace's 12th victory of the season and the first in the Northeast-10.
Alvarado and Shea carried the load for the Setters as Alvarado posted a 2-for-3 performance with 2 RBI and Shea went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.
Game Two
In the second game of the doubleheader, it was a similar story for the Blue and Gold. After a wild pitch brought home the first run of the contest, the Setters struck again with an RBI single from Willa Poplawski. Moving into the second inning, Pace held a 2-0 lead over Saint Michael's. Anna Acevedo drew the start on the mound tossing four innings allowing one run.
In the bottom of the third, Pace tallied another run behind a single from Riley Jenkins to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth. Saint Michael's brought a run across in the top half of the fourth to trim into Pace's lead, 3-1.
Next inning, the Purple Knights tallied their second run of the contest off a double to left field. With Saint Michael's knocking on Pace's door, the Setters needed insurance and delivered in the sixth.
Freshman Madison Picerno came through for the Blue and Gold launching the first home run of her career to push the home squad ahead, 5-2. Out of the bullpen, Lauren Belles shutdown Saint Michael's comeback in her three-inning appearance. The freshman earned the first save of her career closing out Pace's 5-2 victory.
Offensively, the Setters were highlighted by the trio of Poplawski, Picerno, and Raelle Gorman. Poplawski went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Picerno posted a 1-for-2 day with two RBIs, and Gorman had two hits and two runs scored.
Up Next
The Setters are back in action tomorrow for a doubleheader match-up against Franklin Pierce University with the first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.
