CHATTANOOGA, TN. – On Saturday night, Pace University softball continued its historic run in the NCAA Division II Championship, advancing to the national Final Four for the first time in program history after a dramatic 2-1 walk-off victory over Saginaw Valley State University. Locked in a 1-1 deadlock through nine tense innings, the Setters broke through in the bottom of the 10^th as Kaylee Matsuda delivered the game-winning RBI single to send Pace to its first-ever national semifinal.

In an absolute battle on the diamond, the Blue and Gold showcased their grit and determination to avoid elimination and keep their extraordinary tournament run alive. With another win in the books, Pace now sits at a stellar 48-12 heading into the semifinal round of the NCAA DII Softball Championship.

Here's What Happened

• The Setters fell behind early in the contest after Saginaw Valley opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, 1-0, with two walks and a sacrifice fly.
• Pace leveled the score in the bottom of the fourth. After Brianna Shea was hit by a pitch and Jade Alvarado reached on an error, Mikayla Hughes came through with an RBI single to first base to bring Shea home and tie the game at one run apiece.
• From there, the game evolved into a pitcher's duel. Alyssa Smart tossed 4.1 strong innings before handing the ball to senior ace Gisselle Garcia, who turned in a dominant relief outing.
• Garcia threw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five en route to her 30th win of the season. The Setters' defense played error-free ball behind her and stranded eight Saginaw Valley runners over the course of the night.
• In the top of the eighth, Garcia worked out of a jam after a walk, a bunt, and a steal placed the go-ahead run at third. She calmly induced a fly out to left to preserve the tie and set the tone for the final innings.
• Both teams traded punches in extras, but neither side could bring home a run, setting the stage for an epic tenth inning.
• After shutting down the Cardinals to open the inning, Valle and Matsuda teamed up to write the latest chapter in Pace's historic postseason run. Valle sparked the rally with a one-out single up the middle, and then Alexa Borino followed with a sacrifice bunt to push Valle into scoring position.
• Textbook offense from Pace opened the door for the deciding moment of the game, with Matsuda in control of the Setters' destiny. The Kaneohe, HI. native ultimately came through for the Setters and delivered the final blow to Saginaw Valley with a bouncing single up the middle. The unforgettable walk-off single from Matsuda solidified Pace's 2-1 victory and first-ever NCAA DII Softball Championship semifinal.

Box Score Insights

• Matsuda finished the game 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI and was hit by a pitch twice. Her impressive performance could not come on a bigger stage as the junior came up clutch in multiple situations.
• Pace's pitching duo was lights-out once again on the national stage. Smart opened the game with 4.1 solid innings, allowing just two hits and one run, while Garcia tossed 5.2 shutout innings in relief, striking out five to earn her 30th win of the season. With her 30^th victory in the circle, Garcia places herself among the top pitchers in the nation.
• Together, the duo held the Cardinals to just four hits over 10 innings and combined for seven strikeouts in a gutsy, postseason-caliber performance.
• At the plate, several Setters contributed with Hughes (1-for-2, 1 RBI), Shea (1-for-3, 1 run), and Valle (1-for-4, 1 run) highlighting the rest of the lineup behind Matsuda.
• The Setters outhit Saginaw Valley six to four and did not commit an error in the field.

Up Next (2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Semifinals - #2 The University of Tampa)
With the win, the Setters advance to the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time in program history, continuing a postseason run that already includes an East Regional title and Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

Pace will now face the second-seeded Spartans of the University of Tampa in the national semifinals on Sunday at Frost Stadium. The action between two of the nation's finest softball squads kicks off at 1:30 p.m. in Chattanooga, TN.