PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – #1 Pace University softball opened the NCAA East Super Regional on Thursday afternoon with a hard-fought 1-0 extra-inning loss to #2 Wilmington University (Del.). With the dropped game, the Setters fall to 44-11 and will play an elimination game tomorrow at noon at Pace Softball Field.

Here's What Happened

• The game opened as a true postseason pitcher's duel. Gisselle Garcia started in the circle for the Setters and was sharp from the beginning. After allowing a leadoff single in the top of the first, the senior quickly settled in, striking out the next three batters to end the inning.
• In the bottom of the second, Willa Poplawski led off with a single to center field to put Pace's first runner aboard. Raelle Gorman followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Poplawski into scoring position, but the Setters were unable to bring her home.
• Garcia remained dominant through the next few innings, picking up multiple strikeouts in the third and fourth. Wilmington managed just one baserunner in that stretch, as the Setters' defense backed Garcia's strong outing.
• In the fifth, Katerina Luna added to the offensive effort with a single to center, but again, Pace was unable to advance a runner past second base.
• The best scoring chance of the afternoon for the Blue and Gold came in the sixth. Kaylee Matsuda singled to right field to lead off the inning, and Riley Jenkins followed with a textbook sacrifice bunt to move Matsuda to second. However, a groundout and a flyout ended Pace's threat against Wilmington.
• Garcia continued to work efficiently in the late innings, keeping the game scoreless through seven full frames to push the contest into extras. In the top of the eighth, the Wildcats managed to get a runner to second, but Garcia responded with more clutch pitching, recording her 12th and 13th strikeouts to escape the inning.
• After the Setters went down in order in the bottom of the eighth, Wilmington delivered the game's deciding moment, a solo home run to center field. Pace was unable to mount a final rally in the bottom half, as three quick outs closed the door on the extra-inning contest, as the 1-0 final score favored the Wildcats.

Box Score Insights

• D2CCA East Region Pitcher of the Year, Garcia, finished with a line of nine innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, four walks, and 13 strikeouts. In addition, the senior pitcher became Pace Softball's All-Time leader in complete games with her 92nd complete game in her career.
• Offensively, the Setters totaled four hits, with one each from Poplawski, Matsuda, Gorman, and Luna.

Up Next (Wilmington University of Delaware)
Pace will return to action tomorrow at the Pace Softball Field, looking to extend its postseason run in the NCAA East Super Regional. The first pitch of game two in the series is scheduled for 12:00 p.m as the Setters look to force a game three against the Wildcats.