PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Tuesday afternoon, the number one-seeded Pace Softball team hosted the eight-seeded Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College. In the opening round of the Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference Championship, the Setters fell in their first game, 2-1, before fending off the Purple Knights in game two, 2-0.
With the postseason victory, the Setters now enter the quarterfinal round, where they jump back onto the diamond on Thursday with a 38-10 overall record.
Game One
- In the opening game of the playoff schedule, Saint Michael's made a statement in the first inning, knocking a home run off reigning NE10 Pitcher of the Week, Gisselle Garcia. Despite the rapid start from the visitors, the Setters responded with a Willa Poplawski RBI single to bring the score back to even, 1-1.
- Over the next four innings, both pitchers found a groove in the circle as neither side added to their run total, until the Purple Knights found success in the sixth.
- Led by a lead-off single and then a double, Saint Michael's snatched a 2-1 lead over the Blue and Gold as only two innings remained in the contest.
- Despite an opportunity to tie up the game, Pace could not bring home a run before the end of the seventh, as game one went to the road squad, pushing the opening round into a game two elimination game.
- The 2-1 loss marked the Setters' first dropped game at home and also their first time falling to an in-conference opponent.
Game Two
- Following the loss, the Setters jumped back into action thirty minutes after the first game with their NE10 playoffs on the line. A pitcher's duel ensued in the contest, with Alyssa Smart cruising in the circle against the Purple Knights' lineup. With both pitchers commanding the strike zone, both sides failed to bring a run home until the fourth inning.
- Breaking up the 0-0 tie, Raelle Gorman and Brianna Shea tallied back-to-back RBI singles to give the Setters a 2-0 advantage. Moving into the fifth, the Blue and Gold were three innings away from securing their spot in the quarterfinals.
- The low-scoring affair headed into the seventh with a 2-0 score, as Smart had a chance to shut down the opposition. However, Saint Michael's bats would not go down quietly as they earned a base runner following a one-out walk. Making a game-changing move, head coach Claudia Stabile brought in her ace to close out the contest.
- With Garcia in the circle, the final two batters were retired on strikes as Pace solidified their 2-0 victory and trip into the quarterfinal round.
Box Score Insights
- Poplawski celebrated her 100th career hit in game one as the junior finished with two hits, one run scored, and one RBI in the afternoon.
- Alexa Borino and Shea both posted two hits as the Setters registered 11 hits in both games compared to Saint Michael's eight.
- In the circle, Garcia (7.2 IP, 1 SV, 17 K's) and Smart (6.1 IP, 1 W, 4K's) split duties as the pair guided the Setters to the next round.
Up Next (NE10 Conference Championship Quarterfinals)
On Thursday, the Setters will host the quarterfinal round of the conference championship as they await their next opponent.
