PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Sunday, Pace University Softball delivered a dominant doubleheader sweep of Saint Michael's College, winning 15–8 in game one before capturing a 6–3 (10 innings) victory in game two to complete a perfect 4–0 weekend series sweep. The Blue and Gold combined explosive offense with clutch late-game execution and have now won nine straight games, improving to 11–3 overall and 4–0 in the Northeast 10 Conference.
Game One
Softball wasted no time taking control in the opener, erupting for four runs in the first inning.
Ashley Field reached to spark the rally before
Madison Picerno delivered a three-run home run to give the Blue and Gold a 4–0 lead.
The Setters continued to pour it on in the second inning, scoring five more runs to push the lead to 9–0.
Riley Jenkins delivered a two-run double, and
Willa Poplawski followed with a two-run double of her own as the advantage quickly grew.
Pace added three more runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 12–0, highlighted by RBI hits from Field and Jenkins along with another extra-base hit from Poplawski.
After Saint Michael's responded with an eight-run stretch across the fifth and sixth innings to cut the deficit to 12–8, the Blue and Gold answered immediately. In the bottom of the sixth,
Nikki Chong drove in a run before
Katerina Luna delivered a two-run double to push the lead to 15–8 and secure the win.
Field finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Picerno went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Poplawski added two hits and three RBIs, and Jenkins recorded two hits and three RBIs.
In the circle,
Nikki Chandler earned the win, tossing five innings with four strikeouts, while
Priscilla Del Toro closed the game with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Game Two (10 innings)
The second game turned into a tightly contested battle that stretched into extra innings. Softball broke through in the third inning when
Kara King drove in a run to give the Setters a 1–0 lead.
The Purple Knights responded with two runs in the sixth to take a 2–1 lead, but the Blue and Gold answered in the seventh.
Ava Edmond launched a game-tying solo home run over the right field fence, the first of her collegiate career, to even the score at 2–2 and send the game into the late innings.
After Saint Michael's took a 3–2 lead in the ninth, Pace responded again.
Ashley Field delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 3–3 and force extra innings.
In the 10th, the Blue and Gold sealed the sweep in dramatic fashion. Following a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Picerno stepped to the plate and launched a walk-off three-run home run to secure the 6–3 victory.
Picerno finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Luna went 3-for-4 with two doubles. King added two hits and an RBI, and Field contributed two hits and two RBIs.
In the circle,
Alyssa Smart tossed all 10 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out seven to earn the win.
Head coach
Claudia Stabile and the Setters look to keep the momentum going away from their home field on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. against Caldwell University.
