Softball

SETTERS SPLIT WITH MERRIMACK

BRIARCLIFF, NY - The Pace University softball split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with Merrimack College, with the Setters taking the first game, 6-4, and the Warriors winning the second, 3-1, at Pace Field on the Briarcliff campus of Pace University.  Pace goes to 5-7 overall and opens their NE-10 schedule at 1-1.  Merrimack goes to 3-13 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

In the first game, Steph Simon (Windham, NH/Salem) hit a solo homerun to left field to put the Warriors on top, 1-0.  Pace starter Julia Hunt (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) would hold the Warriors scoreless over the next three innings without allowing a Merrimack runner past second base.

In the bottom of the 3^rd, Carolyn Krause (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Merrimack third baseman Clarissa Lewis (Peabody, MA/Peabody) with one out.  Christina Pane (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) drew a walk and DJ Ketchel (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) flied out to right field.  With two outs, Michelle Brigham (Unionville, NY/Minisink Valley) doubled to right center field, scoring Krause to tie the game at 1-1.  Kelly Kinyon (Levittown, PA/Truman) walked to load the bases before Sheila Mercado (Greeley, CO/Greeley) also walked, forcing home Pane and giving Pace a 2-1 lead.  Brigham would score on a wild pitch to give Pace a 3-1 lead. 

In the top of the 5^th, Merrimack responded with a three run inning to retake the lead.  Vicky Cotter (Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet) homered to lead off the inning.  Hunt was able to retire two Merrimack batters before walking Tracy Vadala (Salem, NH/Salem).  After Vadala stole second, Simon then followed with a single up the middle, scoring Vadala from second base and tying the game.  Lewis would follow with a single, scoring Simon and giving Merrimack a 4-3.

In the 6^th, Hunt walked to lead off the inning and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch.  After Jessica Bryant (Brownstown, IN/Brownstown) popped up to third base, Krause followed through with her second hit of the day, moving Hunt to third.  After Krause successfully stole second, Pace singled to center field, scoring Hunt and tying the game at 4-4.  Ketchel would strike out, and Brigham would walk to load the bases.  Kinyon would once again walk, forcing home Krause with the go-ahead run, 5-4.  Mercado would then walk again, forcing home Pane with the insurance run to give Pace a 6-4 lead. 

Hunt would allow Donahue to reach base.  Kristen Belair's (Methuen, MA/Methuen) line drive to Bryant in right fielder resulted in a double play as Donahue was caught off the bag.  Hunt then forced Vadala to chip one back at the mound for the final out.

Hunt improves to 4-2 on the year after allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings.  Cotter took the loss for Merrimack as she drops to 0-1 on the season.  For Pace, Krause was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Brigham was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Mercado was 1-for-2 with 2 walks and two RBI.  For Merrimack, Simon was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

In the second game, Donahue and Belair both singled to lead off the inning.  After Vadala dropped down a bunt to move Donahue to third and Belair to second, Simon drove home Donahue with a fly ball to left field, giving Merrimack a 1-0 lead. 

Pace freshman Patti Hurley (Assonet, MA/Apponequet) tied the game with her first collegiate homerun to left field in the bottom of the 5^th.  Merrimack was quick to respond, retaking the lead in the top of the 6^th.  Lewis singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second.  After Pace starter Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) retired the next two batters, Jill Gagnon (Manchester, NH/Manchester) singled up the middle, scoring Lewis and giving Merrimack a 2-1 lead. Merrimack would tack on another run in the 7^th on a sacrifice fly by Lewis that scored Belair.

For the game, Belair was 2-for-4 with a run scored while Gagnon and Donahue also collected two hits.  Clarice Pepper (Belgrade, ME/Messalonskee) picked up her first win of the year after striking out 10 over seven innings and holding Pace to one run on eight hits.  For Pace, Krause was 2-for-4 while eight Pace hitters collected hits.  Shada takes the loss to drop to 0-1 on the year after allowing three runs on nine hits over seven innings.

Pace returns to action when they host Saint Michael's College on Sunday, April 2^nd at 12:00 p.m. in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Pace Field on the Briarcliff campus of Pace University.