Baxter drives in pair in second game

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BRIARCLIFF, N.Y. (April 14, 2009) – Senior pitcher Kiryl Shada (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Tremper) tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out nine on Tuesday afternoon to lead Pace to a 3-0 victory in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader against the Franklin Pierce University softball team at Pace Field. Pace also won the second game, 4-3, behind a 2-for-4, two-RBI day by senior first baseman Patricia Hurley (Assonet, Mass./Apponequet). Senior left fielder Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) went 2-for-3 and scored twice in the second game for Franklin Pierce.

Pace scored the only run it would need in the first game in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman catcher Victoria Palleschi (Glenville, N.Y./Burnt Hills) led off, was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a groundout and later scored when freshman shortstop Lauren Bell (New Windsor, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) reached on a fielding error.

The Setters added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to create the 3-0 final. With one out, senior second baseman Missy Dubey (Middlefield, Conn./Coginchaug Regional) reached on an error by the right fielder and moved around to third base on a single to right by Bell. After a walk loaded the bases, both Dubey and Bell came home to score on a two-run double to left field by freshman right fielder Nicole Schultheis (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage).

Sophomore pitcher Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) threw a complete game and took the loss (0-6) for Franklin Pierce in the first game. Over six innings in the circle, she gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out three.

Shada tossed the two-hit shutout to pick up the win (8-6) for Pace. She walked two, threw a wild pitch and struck out nine.

In the second game, Pace opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Senior center fielder Christina Pane (Stony Point, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) led off, knocked a single through the left side, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single back up the middle by Hurley.

The Setters pushed the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Junior left fielder Amanda Dague (Houston, Texas/Klein Collins) led off, reached on an error by the shortstop, stole second and came in to score when Hurley followed with a double to center field. Hurley then moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single through the middle of the infield by Bell.

Franklin Pierce cut the deficit to 3-1 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Prybella led off with an infield single to shortstop, stole second and later scored on a single to center field by freshman catcher Jamie Verner (Natick, Mass./Natick).

Pace got the run back to make it a 4-1 game with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, junior third baseman Kerri McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) reached on an error by the third baseman and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Larissa Porcelli (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown). Two batters later, Porcelli came all the way around to score when Pane drove an RBI double into the gap in right-center field.

Franklin Pierce rallied but came up just short with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to create the 4-3 final. Senior pitcher Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) led off with a single up the middle and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Jessica Becker (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville Academy), who would then move around to third on a double down the left-field line by Prybella. Becker and Prybella would both score later on a two-out single to left field by freshman right fielder Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland).

Jacobs pitched a complete game and took the loss (2-11) in the second game for Franklin Pierce. Over six innings, she was touched up for four runs (two earned) on nine hits, walked one, threw a wild pitch and struck out five.

Sophomore Christina Rescigno (Elmsford, N.Y./Good Counsel Academy) went the distance in the circle for Pace to tally the win (2-3). In seven innings on the rubber, she gave up three runs on six hits, walked one, threw a wild pitch and struck out five.

The Ravens (4-22, 0-12 Northeast-10) return to the field on Thursday, April 16, when they return home to host Merrimack in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Franklin Pierce Softball Field in Rindge, N.H. Pace (14-13, 8-4 Northeast-10) returns to action on April 15 at home against Adelphi.