PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Sunday, Pace University Softball split a Northeast 10 Conference doubleheader against Southern New Hampshire University, falling 7–1 in game one before responding with a 9–3 victory in game two at the Pace Softball Field. The Blue and Gold bounced back behind a strong offensive performance in the second game, moving to 12–8 overall and 5–3 in the Northeast 10 Conference (NE10).
Game One
Softball fell behind early in the opener as Southern New Hampshire struck for three runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Penmen added three more in the fourth and another in the fifth to extend the lead to 7–0.
The Blue and Gold answered in the bottom of the first when
Riley Jenkins delivered an RBI double to score
Kara King, cutting the deficit to 3–1, but that would be the only run of the game for Pace.
Pace finished with five hits in the contest, with Jenkins,
Willa Poplawski,
Faith Scally,
Ava Edmond, and
Kaylee Matsuda each recording a hit.
In the circle,
Nikki Chandler took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) over five innings, while
Priscilla Del Toro provided two scoreless innings of relief.
Game Two
The Blue and Gold responded with a dominant performance in the second game, taking control early and never trailing. Pace opened the scoring in the first inning when Poplawski delivered an RBI single to score King and give the Setters a 1–0 lead.
Softball broke the game open in the third inning with a six-run surge. Jenkins started the rally with an RBI single before
Madison Picerno drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. Moments later,
Ava Edmond cleared the bases with a three-run triple to extend the lead to 6–0.
The Blue and Gold continued to add on in the fifth inning as
Bella Cardona delivered a two-run double to push the lead to 8–2, and Pace tacked on another run in the sixth when Picerno added an RBI single to make it 9–2.
Southern New Hampshire added a late run in the seventh, but Pace remained firmly in control throughout the contest.
Poplawski finished with two hits and an RBI, while Edmond led the offense with three RBIs. Scally added two hits and two runs scored, and King crossed the plate twice as part of the 11-hit performance.
In the circle,
Alyssa Smart delivered a complete-game effort, allowing just four hits and three runs while striking out six to secure the victory.
Softball returns to action on Tuesday to face Adelphi University for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m..
