FAIRMONT, WV. – Down in Fairmont, West Virgina, Pace softball began its 2025 season in excellent fashion against the Falcons of Fairmont State University. During their doubleheader match-up on Friday afternoon, the Setters came away with a 3-1 win in game one and a 9-1 victory in game two.

The Blue and Gold head north to battle Shippensburg University tomorrow afternoon, riding a 2-0 record into the meeting.

Game One

• Riley Jenkins jump-started the Setters offense in the first inning, earning the first RBI of the 2025 season on a single. After one inning of play, the score favored Pace 1-0.
• Gisselle Garcia pitched for the Setters and made her presence known in the first inning, retiring the first three batters on strikes.
• The senior continued to have her way in the circle, while Pace added one run in the third off a Willa Poplawski double to center field.
• In the sixth inning, the Setters tacked on one final run off the bat of Katerina Luna, leading to a 3-1 win to open the season.
• In game one of the doubleheader, Garcia produced an 18-strikeout seven-inning performance against the Falcons (2 hits allowed). Her impressive game in the circle marks the fourth time in her career where she has surpassed 15 strikeouts. Friday's start also highlights a career-best mark in strikeouts for the Lemon Grove, CA. native.

Game Two (5 innings)

• In the second game of the doubleheader, a stalemate ensued between both sides until the Setters struck first in the fifth inning off a Jenkins RBI.
• After the Falcons answered back to send the game into extra innings, the Blue and Gold exploded offensively with eight runs in the top of the sixth. RBIs from Raelle Gorman, Kaylee Matsuda, Jade Alvarado, Brianna Shea, Jenkins, and Poplawski led the way for Pace en route to a 9-1 win.
• Priscilla Del Toro took helm of the circle, tossing five innings while allowing four hits and one earned run to post her first win of 2025.

Up Next (Shippensburg University)
Following their season opener in Fairmont, the Blue and Gold head north to face Shippensburg University for a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon on the road.