Briarcliff, N.Y. (April 19) -- Jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the Assumption College softball team held off Pace University for a 4-3 victory in Northeast-10 Southwest division play on Friday afternoon at Pace Field.

Assumption sophomore Jess DiPilato (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) led off the game with a single up the middle and eventually scored on an RBI double down the left-field line from junior Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) for the 1-0 lead. The game stayed that way until the fourth when an RBI double to center from junior Nikki Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) scored senior Lauren Medeiros (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) to make it a 2-0 margin. The Hounds added a third run later in the inning as sophomore catcher Andrea Crowley (Norfolk, Mass./Ursuline Academy) drove in Boris with an RBI single up the middle.

The Hounds continued to hold the 3-0 edge until the bottom of the fifth when the Setters struck for four hits and two runs off of Assumption senior starter Rachel Hedge (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial). Still leading by a 3-2 margin, Assumption got one back in the top of the sixth as Medeiros launched her team-leading sixth home run of the season to push the lead back up to 4-2. Medeiros now has 25 career home runs, moving her within two of the Assumption career record of 27 held by Kristen Ladebauche '00.

Pace answered back in the bottom of the sixth as the ninth hitter, Chelsea Shea, drove in Erin Wood with an RBI double to center. The Setters followed that with a walk by Hana Wright, which prompted Assumption freshman Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) to come on in relief of Hedge. Hedge went 5.1 innings, allowing 10 hits with three earned runs, one strikeout and two walks. Underwood was effective over the final five outs of the game as she helped the Hounds to their second straight victory.

Hedge picks up the win for Assumption to improve to 3-9 on the season, while Underwood earns the save with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Shea went the distance for the Setters, allowing eight hits with four earned runs and six strikeouts as she fell to 7-8 overall on the season.

Medeiros and Boris were both 2-for-3 in the game, along with two runs scored by Medeiros.

With the win, Assumption improves to 11-22-1 overall and 6-9 in divisional play, while the Setters fall to 12-16 overall and 4-10 in the division.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, April 20th as the Hounds close out the three-game series with the Setters in a divisional doubleheader beginning at 1p.m.

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