RALEIGH, N.C. – On Saturday, Pace University Softball delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, sweeping a doubleheader against Shaw University with shutout victories of 7–0 and 11–0. The Blue and Gold combined to score 18 runs on the day while the pitching staff held Shaw scoreless across both contests, including a five-inning mercy-rule victory in the second game, improving to 5–3 overall with conference play kicking off next weekend.
Game One
Softball opened the scoring in the third inning.
Aubrey Carroll reached base to begin the rally and later came around to score on a passed ball.
Faith Scally followed by driving in another run to give the Setters a 2–0 lead.
The Blue and Gold added separation in the fifth inning with a four-run frame.
Ashley Field delivered an RBI single before
Willa Poplawski followed with a run-scoring hit.
Kara King then lined a two-run single to extend the advantage to 6–0.
Poplawski capped the scoring in the seventh inning with an inside-the-park home run, sealing the 7–0 victory.
In the circle,
Nikki Chandler delivered a dominant outing, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing six hits and striking out 11 batters across seven innings.
Game Two (5 innings)
Softball carried the momentum into the second game and struck early.
Ashley Field reached base and later scored to give the Blue and Gold an early advantage.
The Setters broke the game open in the third inning.
Ava Edmond delivered an RBI hit before
Katerina Luna added another run-scoring knock.
Kara King followed with an RBI single as the lead grew to 7–0.
The offense continued to roll in the fourth inning when Edmond ripped a two-run triple and Luna followed with another RBI single to push the lead into double digits. Softball added one more run in the fifth inning to secure the 11–0 mercy-rule victory.
Edmond led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while
Riley Jenkins added two hits and Luna drove in two runs.
Skylar Gapol also contributed an RBI in the win.
In the circle,
Alyssa Smart tossed five shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out three to complete the dominant doubleheader sweep.
Softball returns to the field on Sunday, traveling to face Virginia State University in a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader to close out its extended road trip. The Blue and Gold will then return to Pleasantville, N.Y., next weekend for their home opener against Saint Michael's College.