SETTERS SPLIT WITH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
BRIARCLIFF, NY - The Pace University split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with Southern New Hampshire University, with the Penmen taking the first game 2-1, before Pace bounced back with a 3-2 win in the second half of the twin bill. Pace goes to 18-28-1 overall and 11-16-1 in Northeast-10 Action while Southern New Hampshire goes to 21-19 overall and 20-8 in the Northeast-10. Seniors Jenna Hutchison (Lodi, NJ/Lodi), Michelle Brigham (Unionville, NY/Minisink Valley) and Sheila Mercado (Greeley, CO/Greeley West) were honored prior to the day as part of Senior Day activities at Pace Field on the Briarcliff campus of Pace University.
The Setters struck first in Game 1 as Patti Hurley (Assonet, NY/Apponequet) led off the 2nd inning with a single. Mercado then dropped down a sacrifice bunt moving Hurley to second base. Freshman Tricia Alluto (Matawan, NJ/Matawan Regional) then singled up the middle, driving home Hurley with the game's first run.
Pace starter Kelly Kinyon (Levittown, PA/Truman) was dominant over the first five innings, holding SNHU to three hits while allowing five base runners. In the 6th, Karissa Bettencourt (Norton, MA) singled to left field with one out before Felicia Brum (Braintree, MA) blasted her team leading fourth homerun of the season.
Kinyon would allow just one more hit as she took a tough 2-1 decision. Kinyon goes to 2-4 on the season after allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. Southern New Hampshire's Mary Bradford (Big Bear, CA) took a no-decision after lasting just 1 1/3 innings. Ashley Smith (Franklin, NH) picked up the win to improve to 11-7 on the year. Smith gave up one hit over the final 5 2/3, while walking four batters and striking out two.
At the plate, Bettencourt was 3-for-3 with a run scored while Brum and Lindsey Yeomans (Durham, CT) also added hits. For Pace, Carolyn Krause (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), Hurley and Alluto had the Setters' three hits.
In the second game, Nikki Cote (Bristol, RI) led off the game with a double to center field. After Valerie Martins' (Somerset, MA) sacrifice bunt moved Cote and third and Bettencourt went down on strikes, Brum stroked a two-out single to center field scoring Cote and giving Southern New Hampshire an early 1-0 lead.
Pace would erase the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Krause led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. After Christina Pane (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) bunted Krause over to second, Brigham struck out swinging and attempted to advance on a dropped third strike, but was retired while Krause moved to third on the play. Hurley then drove in Krause with the tying run on a single to left field.
In the 2nd inning, Kinyon walked with one out and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DJ Ketchel (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic). Jessica Bryant (Brownstone, IN/Brownstone) then followed with a ground ball to short that was thrown away, allowing Bryant to move to second and Kinyon to score to give Pace a 2-1 lead. After Bryant stole third successfully, Krause followed with a double to left field, scoring Bryant and giving Pace a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the 7th, Yeomans pinch hit for Laurie Boland (Braintree, MA). After Yeomans walked, Boland reentered the game art first base. Boland moved to second when Michelle Maranto (East Hampstead, NH) grounded out to third base. After Boland moved to third on a wild pitch, Cote followed with a double to left field to Boland. Cote attempted to stretch a double into a triple and was caught in a rundown, ending the Penmen rally and the game.
Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) picked up the win for the Setters after holding Southern New Hampshire to two runs on five hits over seven innings. Ashley Bernstein (Stoughton, MA) took the hard luck loss to drop to 9-8 on the year. Bernstein allowed three runs, one earned, on eight hits over six innings pitched.
At the plate, Krause was 2-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI. For Southern New Hampshire, Cote was also 2-for-4 with a RBI and one run scored.
Pace returns to action when they travel to Garden City, NY to
take on the Panthers of Adelphi University on Tuesday, May
2nd at 3:00 p.m.