THE BASICS:

-Score Game 1: Assumption 3, Pace 0

-Score Game 2: Assumption 4, Pace 5

-Records: Assumption (4-13-1, 1-4-1 NE-10), Pace (7-5, 2-0 NE-10)

-Location: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (Pace Field)

-The Lead: The Assumption College softball team fell in two close contests on the road at Pace University on Sunday at Pace Field. The Hounds dropped the first game 3-0 on a three-run sixth inning after posting five scoreless frames before falling 5-4 in game two following a four-run second inning that proved too much for an Assumption comeback.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 1

-Both teams remained scoreless for five innings in game one before Pace posted a three-run sixth inning for the eventual 3-0 score.

-In the top of the first, junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman) led off with a walk and stole second to reach scoring position before three straight Hounds struck out to keep Assumption scoreless.

-It was three up-three down for the Hounds until the top of the fifth when senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) earned a walk with two outs. She too moved to second before a strikeout closed the inning still scoreless.

-Assumption got even closer to scoring in the top of the sixth when junior Cassie Schultz (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury) earned a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Clark. Freshman Caitlin Mirabell (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) reached first on an error by Pace to put two Hounds on base before two straight pop ups closed the inning, still 0-0.

-Pace broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth when Surina Sandhu sent a one-out single up the middle followed by a foul out to Hound first baseman Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West). The setters went on a two-out rally that included two singles and three runs to put Assumption down 3-0.

-The Hounds threatened a comeback in the top of the seventh, putting two on base on a Caira single up the middle and a walk by sophomore Nicole Duplease (Leominster, Mass. / Leominster). Sophomore Marissa Gifford (North Attleboro, Mass. / North Attleboro) followed with a single to center field to load the bases before a pop-up double play ended the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 1

-Both teams struggled offensively in game one. The Hounds posted two hits off the bats of Caira and Gifford while Pace notched just seven hits in the game, only one extra-base hit.

-Assumption left six runners on base compared to five for the Setters.

-Sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) takes the loss for the Hounds and slips to 4-4 on the season. Roy tallied four strikeouts in 6.0 innings while allowing three earned runs. She also allowed seven hits and walked just one batter.

-Pace's Kaitlynn Nelson saw all 7.0 innings in the circle and improves to 4-1 on the season. She walked four batters and allowed two hits while posting nine strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 2

-Assumption got out to a 2-0 lead in game two in just the first inning. Junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) belted an RBI double to center field with just one out and advanced to third as Pace attempted to throw out Schultz at home, who had reached on a fielder's choice. Abad crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Hounds before two straight outs closed the half inning.

-Pace responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1 when Larissa Labs stole home.

-The Setters came back and took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the second, posting four runs on three hits and one Hound error.

-Assumption threatened in the top of the third when Schultz and Abad notched back-to-back singles with just one out. Duplease was hit by a pitch with two outs to load the bases before a pop up to second base registered the final out and sent the Hounds back into the field, still 5-2 Pace.

-The Hounds loaded the bases once more in the top of the sixth but a double play prevented Assumption from scoring.

-Assumption went on a two-out rally in the top of the seventh. Down by three, Caira led off with a single to right field followed by two strikeouts. Abad stepped up and singled up the middle followed by a double off the bat of senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven) to score both Abad and Caira, 5-4 Pace. One last strikeout closed the game for the 5-4 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 2

-Assumption outhit Pace in game two 9-7. The Hounds also left seven runners on base to just five for the Setters.

-Abad led Assumption going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI. Moniz registered two hits while Schultz, Duplease, Menard and Caira each added one.

-Abad and Moniz each doubled in game two and were the only Hounds to drive in runs. Abad tallied one RBI while Moniz notched two.

-Senior Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H. / Alvirne) started in the circle in game two, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing four runs, two earned, on just two hits. She falls to 0-4 on the season and was replaced by junior Jurnee Serating-Ware (Hudson, Mass. / Hudson) in the bottom of the second. Serating-Ware allowed five hits and one run in 4.2 innings while tallying two strikeouts.

-Pace's Caitlin McCann improves to 1-3 on the season, posting five strikeouts in 5.0 innings while allowing six hits and two runs. Jaclyn Flores earned her first save of the season, closing the game with three hits and two runs in 2.0 innings.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORES:

-Roy's game-high strikeout total is five. Sunday's game marks the second time this season she has collected four in one game. 

-After starting out the season with just nine hits in Assumption's 12 spring break games in Florida, Abad has notched nine hits in the Hounds' last six games alone against conference opponents including two doubles, one triple and one home run. 

-Moniz has posted three extra-base hits in the Hounds' last three games including one double and two home runs.

-Duplease continues to lead the Hounds with a .382 batting average. She rode a six-game hitting streak from March 10-March 16 and has posted 12 hits in Assumption's last 11 games.

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, March 24 when they host Stonehill College at 1 p.m. Assumption and Stonehill will begin by continuing their tied game from March 16th, which is currently tied 4-4 heading into the top of the eighth inning. Following the conclusion of the tied game, the squads will play a single, conference game.

-Pending weekend weather outcomes, the Hounds will play at either WPI, or on the Assumption campus at Marois Field. Stay tuned to www.AssumptionGreyhounds.com for the latest updates.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

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