PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Saturday, Pace University Softball split the final two games of its four-game Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) series against Southern Connecticut State University. The Setters rallied for a 6-5 victory in game one before dropping game two, 3-1, moving to 17-23 overall and 9-17 in NE10 play.
Game One
Southern Connecticut State grabbed an early 2-0 lead through the opening two innings before the Setters answered in the bottom of the second.
Willa Poplawski singled to begin the frame before
Faith Scally delivered a two-run double to left field, scoring Poplawski and
Aubrey Carroll to tie the game at 2-2.
The Owls responded with three runs in the third inning to move back in front, 5-2. Southern Connecticut State collected four hits in the inning before
Priscilla Del Toro entered in relief and stopped the rally. Del Toro settled the game down from there, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits to earn the win.
Pace broke through with its biggest inning of the afternoon in the fifth.
Kara King walked and advanced into scoring position before
Kaylee Matsuda lined an RBI single to right center to make it 5-3.
After
Willa Poplawski worked a walk,
Katerina Luna delivered a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at 5-5.
Ava Edmond followed with an RBI single to left field to score Luna and give the Setters their first lead of the afternoon at 6-5.
King finished with two hits and a run scored, while Luna drove in two runs. Scally also recorded two RBIs, and Edmond added the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning.
Game Two
Southern Connecticut State struck first in the opening inning on a solo home run before Pace answered in the fourth.
Willa Poplawski singled and advanced into scoring position before
Nikki Chong lined an RBI single to right center, tying the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the fifth inning, when Southern Connecticut State regained the lead with a two-run inside-the-park home run to move in front 3-1.
Nikki Chandler kept the Setters in the game throughout the afternoon, allowing three runs over 4.2 innings before Del Toro added 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Poplawski led the offense with three hits, while Chong recorded the lone RBI.
The Setters return home on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Molloy University, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
