PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - After dropping the last nine meetings against Pace dating back to March 17, 2017, the Southern Connecticut State University softball team swept the Setters in conference play, 4-2 and 5-2 at the Pace Softball Field. The Owls move to 8-6 on the year and 5-5 in the Northeast 10, while the Setters fall to 6-12 overall and 6-8 in the NE10.
The Owls saw solid performances from their four-player pitching rotation.
Jazmyn Martinez (Middletown, N.Y.) pitched the first six innings of game one with two strikeouts to earn the win.
Jessica Perucki (West Milford, N.J.) picked up the save in game one and went on to pitch four innings and earn the win in game two.
Rachel Miller (Wateford, Conn.) saw time in two innings, while
Emma Gorham (Ellington, Conn.) sealed the victory with a save in game two.
Offensively,
Sara Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) went 3-for-6 with two runs, one stolen base and a walk, while
Jacqueline Dumont (Nashua, N.H.) went 3-for-8 including a home run with two RBI and one run scored.
Game 1: Southern Connecticut 4, Pace 2
- Buscetto, who reached base on a triple, started the scoring for the Owls in the first inning reaching home on a ground out.
- It wasn't until the fifth inning that the Setters notched the equalizer scoring on a double from Arielle Acosta down the left field line.
- Southern responded in the sixth inning as Dumont notched her second home run of the year to left field breaking the tie. Lauryn Zubia (San Fernando, Calif.) joined in on the offense knocking a two RBI double to center field that brought home Jayden Delaporta (Mystic, Conn.) and Emily Lange (Monroe, Conn.).
- Pace attempted a comeback in the seventh scoring one run off a double to right field but the Setters late game efforts weren't enough as Southern went on to capture the 4-2 victory.
Game 2: Southern Connecticut 5, Pace 2
- The Owls kept the offense rolling scoring first as Buscetto reached home on a Dumont double down the left field line.
- Southern scored a flurry of runs in the third inning on a string of errors and misplays by the Setters defense. A bright spot of the inning occurred when Perucki blasted a RBI double to the fence in center field scoring Tuscano, 5-0 Owls.
- Pace scored two runs on a pair of singles in the fourth cutting the Owls lead to three, but Southern's scoring frenzy in the third inning proved to be the difference maker.
Game Notes
- Sara Buscetto collected her 14th stolen base of the season against Pace on April 10. Buscetto now has 59 career stolen bases, second all-time in SCSU history and five stolen bases shy of tying Brittany Bucko (64), who currently sits first all-time.
- Jessica Perucki collected her third win of the season in game two and her second save of the season in game one.
- Emma Gorham earned her first collegiate save in the circle coming in relief for Rachel Miller.
- Katrina Roy made her collegiate defensive debut for the Owls behind the plate in game two.
- Natalie Scotto made her collegiate debut for Southern Connecticut pinch hitting in game two.
On Deck
The Owls were scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Setters on Sunday, April 11, but due to impending weather the games have been postponed. They will return to action on Tuesday, April 13 when they host Adelphi for a doubleheader at Pelz Field.
