SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLE DIP WITH MERRIMACK
BRIARCLIFF, NY - The Pace University softball team split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with the Warriors of Merrimack College this afternoon at Pace Field on Pace's Briarcliff campus. The Setters came from behind to take the opener 5-4, but fell in game two as the Warriors salvaged the split with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap. Pace moved their record to 22-18 overall on season and 10-12 in the NE-10, while Merrimack goes to 9-23 on the year, 9-15 in conference play.
Scoreless through the first three innings in game one, Merrimack drew first scoring a run in the top of the fourth as Jill Richards (Bucksport, ME) doubled to left center to led off the inning and came in to score on a throwing error by the third basemen attempting to throw out Kelsey Ellis (Vancouver, BC), who laid down a bunt. The Warriors would add another run in the top of the fifth on a solo homerun from Felicia Astorino (Virginia Beach, VA).
Pace would answer with a three-run fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Christina Pane (Stony Point, NY/Cardinal Spellman) got the Setters on the board with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Missy Dubey (Middlefield, CT/Coginchaug Regional), who singled to lead off the inning. Patti Hurley's (Assonet, MA/Apponequet) RBI single to left brought home DJ Ketchel (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic), while Amanda Dague (Spring, TX/Klein Collins) would also score on the play, as the ball got away from the catcher on the throw home.
The Warriors would regain the lead score a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Pinch runner Jamie Millett (Hudson, MA) scored the tying run beating the throw home on a grounder to third from Richards. Jill Gagnon's (Manchester, NH) RBI single plating Katie Crowley (Leominster, MA) would out Merrimack back on top heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Kim Troiano (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) began the come from behind rally drawing a one out walk as Dague followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second. Pane's RBI double to centerfield tied the game at four, scoring Troiano. Dague would come in to score on an RBI single from Hurley.
Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) (10-8) picked up her 10th win of the season going the distance allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, while striking out two. Her counterpart Clarice Pepper (Belgrade, ME) (2-4) took the loss allowing five runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out four in 6 1/3 innings of work.
The Warriors got on the board early in game two as Gagnon's two-run homerun in the top of the first put Merrimack up 2-0. The Warriors would never trail in the game as they would score a run in the second, third and fifth innings. Pace's lone run came off an RBI double from Alton Frisbie (Indian Hills, CO/Conifer) that scored Hurley in the bottom of the fourth.
Gagnon (2-7) would also pick up the win tossing seven solid innings, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out three. Christina Rescigno (Elmsford, NY/Good Counsel Academy) (6-6) started for Pace allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, while walking one and striking out one in three innings.
Pace returns to action tomorrow, Friday, April 25th,
as the Setters will play host to Northeast-10 Conference rival
UMass-Lowell. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.