SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH ADELPHI
GARDEN CITY, NY - The Pace University softball team split a non-conference twin bill with regional foe Adelphi University on Thursday at Janet L. Ficke Field. The Panthers took the first game 2-1 in nine innings, before the Setters earned the split taking game two 4-3 in six innings. Pace moves to 8-4 on the year, while Adelphi goes to 11-11 on the season.
Pace struck first as junior Trish Alluto's (Matawan, NJ/Matawan Regional) two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth inning scored classmate Christina Pane (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) for the first run of the ballgame. Pane singled to start the inning, stole second and moved to third on a groundout to be in position to score. The Setters' lead would not last long, however, as junior Diana DiPiano led off the bottom half of the fourth for the Panthers with a solo homerun to tie the game.
The game would remain knotted at 1-1 until the bottom of the ninth. Junior Jessica Vogt doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Stephanie Byster. Junior Angela Martin followed with the game-winning RBI single scoring Vogt to end the game.
Junior Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) (3-2) started for Pace going 8.1 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits, while walking one and striking out five. Senior Samantha Tilton picked up the win for Adelphi, tossing three shutout innings of relief, surrendering just a pair of hits and a walk, to go with one strikeout. Classmate Julie Schaper started for the Panthers going six innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walked one and struck out five.
The Setters struck first again in the nightcap as Pane drove home sophomore Kerri McLean (Woodhaven, NY/Archbishop Molloy), who tripled to lead off the top of the third. Adelphi would answer quickly as junior Samantha Johnston's two-out RBI single in the bottom half of the third brought home sophomore Katie Brophy, who doubled to get in scoring position. The Panthers would add another run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead on an RBI single by Martin.
The Setters would regain the lead with a two-run rally in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of Adelphi's shaky defense, as Kelly Kinyon (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) and McLean rounded the bases. The Panthers would tie the game again in the bottom half of the fifth as Brophy's RBI double scored junior Kristin Brennan, who singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt.
McLean's go-ahead RBI single to bring home Kinyon in the top of the sixth would give Pave the lead and eventual win.
Freshman Christina Rescigno (Elmsford, NY/Good Counsel Academy) (2-0) started for Pace pitching the six full innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, while striking out two.
Pace returns to action this weekend as they hit the road to open
Northeast-10 Conference play. The Setters travel to Smithfield,
Rhode Island on Saturday, March 29th to take on Bryant
University and will then travel to Easton, Massachusetts the next
day, Sunday, March 30th, to take on Stonehill College.