STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Behind 12 total runs in two games, the Pace University softball team captured back-to-back wins in Tuesday's doubleheader against the College of Staten Island. The Setters took game one, 6-0, and game two, 6-1, improving their overall record to 24-10.
Game One
A six-run first inning was enough for the Setters to capture the game-one victory over Staten Island. After the first two runs of the contest were forced home on walks, Willa Poplawski continued her hot streak by smacking a 2 RBI single through the ride side to extend Pace's lead to 4-0. Sophie Valle finished the rally with a slicing single down the left-field line to give the Blue and Gold a 6-0 advantage after the top of the first.
Gisselle Garcia started in the circle for Pace tossing three innings allowing no hits, no runs, and six strikeouts. Staten Island failed to reach base in the first three innings as Garcia dominated again for the Setters. In the fourth inning, Priscilla Del Toro came out of the bullpen and picked up right where Garcia left off pitching four innings, allowing no runs while striking out five batters.
Staten Island's offense was no match for the Setters as the Blue and Gold tallied six hits and six runs compared to the Dolphin's four hits and no runs. Del Toro cruised her way through the Staten Island lineup in the final four innings to secure Pace's first win of the day.
Poplawski and Valle posted two RBIs each in the contest while Alexa Borino provided two hits and a run scored.
Game Two
Game two was a similar story for Pace as they captured a 6-1 victory for their 24th win of the 2024 season. After two innings of scoreless softball, the Setters brought home the first run of the game in the third off a Riley Jenkins single to left field. Poplawski followed up the RBI with one of her own, after a ground out to second base. Heading into the fourth, Pace held a 2-0 lead and would not surrender it the rest of the way.
More runs lit up the scoreboard for Pace in the fourth as Kaylee Matsuda and Brianna Shea both utilized singles to increase the Setter lead to 4-0. Jenkins delivered the final run for Pace in the sixth with a base knock through the right side.
Staten Island managed to score their only run of the day in the seventh but could not rally enough as the Setters shut the door on the home team winning, 6-1. Alyssa Smart had her most productive outing of the season pitching a complete game allowing one run off five hits. The freshman earned her third win of the year in the longest outing of her career.
At the plate, Pace was led by Jenkins (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Shea (1-for-3, 2 RBI), and Matsuda (3-for-4, 1 RBI). Jenny Gordon provided two hits in the heart of the order as well.
Up Next
Tomorrow the Setters return to the diamond in Flushing, N.Y. as they take on Queens College with the first pitch of the doubleheader set for 2:00 p.m.
