CHATTANOOGA, TN. – On Thursday night, #6 Pace University softball opened its 2025 NCAA Division II Championship campaign at Frost Stadium with a narrow 3-2 defeat to #3 the University of Central Oklahoma. In spite of an early lead and a gutsy complete-game effort by Gisselle Garcia, the Setters came up just short in a back-and-forth battle.

Despite the narrow 3-2 setback to begin the tournament, the Blue and Gold showed poise, confidence, and the kind of play that brought them to the final eight in the country.

Additionally, Brianna Shea became the program's all-time RBI leader as she surpassed the previous mark of 119, posting the 120th RBI of her illustrious career.

Here's What Happened

• Pace wasted little time striking in the top of the second inning. Willa Poplawski got things going with a single to left field before a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Raelle Gorman moved her into scoring position. Moments later, Shea delivered the game's first blow with a record-breaking RBI single to give the Setters a 1-0 edge. Shea then promptly stole home for a second run after Sophie Valle poked a single into right, giving Pace a 2–0 advantage after two.
• Garcia held the Bronchos hitless through the first two frames, showcasing the dominant form that earned her 28 wins this season. However, Central Oklahoma responded in the bottom of the third, scratching across a run after a hit-by-pitch and an RBI double to cut Pace's lead to 2-1.
• The next two innings saw solid defensive work on both sides. Gorman drew a walk to lead off the fourth, but the Setters couldn't capitalize. Garcia continued to keep the Bronchos in check, adding to her nine-strikeout total and escaping multiple threats with clutch outs.
• Pace threatened again in the sixth. Riley Jenkins earned a walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Madison Picerno, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Poplawski. But the Setters couldn't push her across, leaving the door open for Central Oklahoma's late rally.
• In the bottom half of the sixth, defensive miscues proved costly after a hit-by-pitch and a dropped fly ball allowed the tying run to score. Central Oklahoma quickly followed with an RBI infield single to take a 3-2 lead with both runs unearned.
• The Setters continued to battle, but Central Oklahoma closed out the one-run decision with a clean seventh inning as the 3-2 final favored the higher seed on day one of the tournament.

Box Score Insights

• Garcia suffered the tough-luck loss despite allowing just one earned run on five hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out nine and walked none in her 116-pitch effort.
• Shea led Pace offensively with a base-knock, an RBI, and a run scored, while Poplawski, Valle, and Jade Alvarado each contributed hits.

Up Next (2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship - #7 Shippensburg University)
Pace will now move to the elimination bracket and face a must-win game in their next NCAA DII Championship contest set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against #7 Shippensburg University.