GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Pace University Softball dropped both ends of a Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) doubleheader against Adelphi University on Tuesday, falling 10-2 in five innings in game one before suffering a 1-0 loss in the second game. The Setters carried an early lead into the middle innings of the opener and received a strong pitching performance in game two, but could not find enough offense as the Blue and Gold moved to 15-21 overall and 7-15 in NE10 play.
Game One (5 innings)
The Setters struck first in the opening inning, as
Kara King doubled down the left field line before
Willa Poplawski tripled home the game's first run to give Pace a 1-0 lead.
Adelphi answered immediately on a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, but Pace regained the advantage in the third.
Kaylee Matsuda singled and eventually scored on an RBI single from
Riley Jenkins to put the Setters back in front, 2-1.
The Panthers responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead. Adelphi then broke the game open in the fifth, scoring six runs to extend the advantage to 10-2 and secure the run-rule victory.
Poplawski finished with two hits, including a triple and an RBI, while Jenkins added a hit and an RBI.
Kara King and
Aubrey Carroll also recorded hits in the loss.
Game Two
The second game developed into a pitchers' duel, as
Nikki Chandler and Adelphi's Tori Parente traded scoreless innings throughout the afternoon. Chandler turned in one of her strongest outings of the season, allowing just four hits while striking out eight across 6.2 innings.
Pace generated scoring opportunities throughout the game but stranded 13 runners on base.
Riley Jenkins recorded two hits, while
Aubrey Carroll added two more hits and
Kaylee Matsuda singled for the Setters.
The game remained scoreless into the bottom of the seventh inning before Adelphi capitalized on an error and a late RBI single to secure the 1-0 walk-off victory.
Despite the loss, Chandler kept the Setters in the game throughout, allowing just one unearned run and limiting Adelphi to four hits across the contest.
The Setters return home on Saturday for a NE10 doubleheader against Southern Connecticut State University, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
