SHIPPENSBURG, PA. - No. 24 Pace University Softball opened its 2026 campaign on Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with No. 21 Shippensburg University at Robb Field. The Raiders took the opener 9–1 before the Setters responded with a strong offensive performance to secure a 7–4 victory in the second game. With the split, the Blue and Gold move to 1–1 overall on the season. 

Game One
Shippensburg struck first in the early innings of the opener and used a big fourth inning to pull away for the victory.

After a scoreless first inning, the Raiders broke through in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to take a 1–0 lead. Shippensburg added two more runs in the third inning to extend the advantage to 3–0 as the Setters looked to generate offense.

Pace answered in the fourth inning. Kaylee Matsuda reached after being hit by a pitch before advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Riley Jenkins. Moments later, Willa Poplawski delivered the Setters' biggest hit of the game, ripping an RBI triple to right field to bring Matsuda home and trim the deficit to 3–1. 

However, the Raiders responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a decisive rally, scoring six runs to take full control of the contest. The Setters collected four hits in the opener, including a double from Bella Cardona, but Shippensburg held on to secure the win. 

Game Two
The Setters responded in game two with an explosive offensive performance early that ultimately powered Pace to its first win of the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Blue and Gold erupted for four runs in the second. Faith Scally sparked the rally with a single before Mikayla Hughes delivered an RBI double to right-center field to put Pace on the board. Later in the inning, Ashley Field delivered the biggest swing of the frame, blasting a three-run double that capped the rally and pushed the Setters ahead 4–0. 

Pace continued to apply pressure in the third inning. Willa Poplawski doubled to begin the rally before Katerina Luna followed with a single to put runners in scoring position. Aubrey Carroll was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Matsuda added another RBI after being hit by a pitch to extend the Pace lead to 6–1. 

Shippensburg attempted to rally with two runs in the fifth inning and another in the seventh, but the Setters stayed in front. Pace added an insurance run in the sixth when Riley Jenkins drove in Matsuda with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 7–3.

In the circle, Nikki Chandler delivered a complete-game effort for the Blue and Gold, allowing four runs on seven hits while keeping the Raiders from completing the comeback attempt. 

Offensively, Scally paced Pace with two hits, while Field finished with three RBIs. Hughes added an RBI double and Jenkins contributed an RBI single as the Setters collected seven hits in the victory. 

Pace returns to action Sunday, traveling to face Shepherd University for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.