CHATTANOOGA, TN. – The most memorable season in Pace University softball history came to a close on Sunday afternoon at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, TN, as the Setters fell 4-2 to the University of Tampa in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship semifinal round. The defeat capped off a remarkable 48-13 season for Pace, which earned its first-ever berth in the national final four and captivated fans throughout the postseason.

Here's What Happened

• The game opened as a classic pitchers' duel, with both teams trading zeros in the first inning. Gisselle Garcia set the tone early by striking out the side in the bottom half of the first, recording three consecutive swinging strikeouts. It was clear from the outset that the battle would be hard-fought and decided by the narrowest of margins.
• After a quiet second inning for the Pace offense, Garcia surrendered a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the frame. The Setters faced a 1-0 deficit but responded with the resilience that defined their season.
• Pace flipped the script in the top of the fourth inning. After two quick outs, Riley Jenkins stepped up and lined a base hit straight up the middle, bringing life to the offense. Moments later, outfielder Willa Poplawski delivered the biggest swing of the game.
• The junior clean-up hitter turned on an inside pitch and crushed a two-run home run over the left-center field fence. The ball soared through the air and landed just beyond the wall, giving the Setters a 2-1 lead. The inning closed on a strikeout, but the damage was done as Pace had seized momentum and the lead in the program's first-ever national semifinal.
• Unfortunately, the bottom of the fourth brought the game's pivotal sequence. The Spartans led off with a double into right-center, followed by another two-base hit down the left field line to tie the game at 2-2. A sacrifice bunt was then mishandled, resulting in an error that allowed the go-ahead run to cross. A brief conference and a challenge of the play followed, but the call stood. Still with no outs, Garcia regrouped and got a fly-out to right that advanced the runner to third. Another sharply hit single to left pushed across an unearned run, extending the deficit to 4-2. Despite the defensive miscue, Garcia struck out the next two batters to end the inning and minimize further damage.
• Trailing by two, the Setters continued to fight and in the top of the fifth, Sophie Valle kept hopes alive with a two-out infield single. However, a fly-out ended the threat and stranded the runner, leaving the score at 4-2 with Tampa ahead.
• In the sixth, the top of the Setters' lineup was retired in order despite strong swings, and Garcia returned to the circle for the bottom half. The senior right-hander finished her day by retiring the side in order and recording her 11th punch-out of the afternoon.
• With one final opportunity in the seventh, the Setters' season came down to the heart of the order. Poplawski battled in a six-pitch at-bat but was retired on strikes. Raelle Gorman popped out to first base in foul territory, and Brianna Shea, battling to extend the game, was also set down on strikes to bring Pace's unforgettable ride to its conclusion.

Box Score Insights

• Garcia capped off one of the most dominant seasons in school and regional history by striking out 11 batters over six innings, allowing five hits and just three earned runs. With Sunday's effort, Garcia closed her season with 400 strikeouts while throwing more than 250 innings, both highlighting program records alongside several others.
• Poplawski delivered the highlight of the afternoon for the Blue and Gold with a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, finishing 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs.
• Jenkins (1-for-3) and Valle (1-for-3) produced two of Pace's three base-knocks in the afternoon as the Setters were outhit five to three.

Though the final result fell short of a national title, the 2025 Setters will be remembered as legends in Pleasantville, N.Y. From capturing their first-ever NE10 crown to hoisting the NCAA East Region championship trophy and reaching the NCAA semifinals, this team broke through barriers that once seemed unreachable.

Under the steady leadership of head coach Claudia Stabile and her staff, the Setters developed a positive culture of championship belief that will continue into future seasons.

With a solid foundation returning and the program's national profile elevated, the future of Pace University Softball looks brighter than ever. The experience gained in Chattanooga will serve as fuel for the next wave of Setters determined to return to the sport's grandest stage.