PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Gisselle Garcia stunned the College of Saint Rose on the mound in Sunday's doubleheader, earning two wins while recording 19 strikeouts between both games. The Pace University softball team captured game one, 2-1, and game two, 7-5. Moving into the second week of April, the Setters are 17-7 overall, and 6-2 in the Northeast-10.
Game One
Garcia went against Saint Rose's Hannah Breen in a pitcher's duel for game one to begin an exciting day at the Pace Softball Field, as the junior continued her dominant 2024 season in the circle striking out the side in the first.
Runs were hard to come by for both sides in the match-up, but in the third Pace struck first with an RBI triple from Brianna Shea making it 1-0. Shea has found great success at the plate as of late, currently riding a nine-game hit streak.
Despite Garcia's commanding efforts, Saint Rose eked a run across in the fourth to tie the game, 1-1. Similar to earlier match-ups this year, Pace would come up clutch in the final innings.
In the fifth, a lead-off single from Kaylee Matsuda put Pace in position to manufacture a run. A sacrifice bunt from Alexa Borino advanced Matsuda to second base and the go-ahead run into scoring position. The next batter, Raelle Gorman popped a single down the right field line to score the eventual game-winning run making it 2-1 Pace.
After the productive fifth inning, the Setters had all they needed to close out Saint Rose in game one, as Garcia sat down four of the final ten batters with a strikeout. The two-time Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Week this season, tallied a complete game allowing one run off three hits while striking out 14 batters.
The top of the order continues to produce efficiently in 2024. Gorman and Shea each tallied a hit with an RBI while Matsuda and Borino knocked two base hits in game one.
Game Two
In another close match-up between Pace and Saint Rose, it came down to the final three innings. After Pace held a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth, Saint Rose overtook the lead, 5-3, following a four-run rally.
Put in a tight spot again, the Setters delivered in the next half-inning. Gorman knocked home another RBI off a single through the right side to cut into Saint Rose's lead, 5-4. After the Golden Knights walked the next batter, Riley Jenkins provided the go-ahead run driving into two off a single up the middle. After the sixth, the Setters held a one-run lead, 6-5.
Following the inning, the head coach of the Setters Claudia Stabile decided to go back to game one's ace, Garcia, to close out the game. Saint Rose failed to reach base with Garcia back in the circle as she struck out five batters in the final two innings of game two. Pace earned the hard-fought win in a 7-5 final.
At the plate, Matsuda (3-for-5, 1 RBI), Gorman (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), and Jenkins (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) lead the way for the Setters in game two.
For the doubleheader, Garcia tossed nine innings total, earning two wins while reaching 19 strikeouts on the day. The Lemon Grove, CA native recorded at least one strikeout in every inning she pitched.
Through 20 games this season, the Setters have the sixth-best earned run average across the NCAA Division II. In 133.2 total innings this year, the Blue and Gold have allowed only 29 earned runs (1.52 ERA).
Up Next
This Tuesday, Pace continues the 2024 season with a home match-up against Adelphi University. The first pitch of game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 p.m.
