Softball

History Setters! Pace Heads to Chattanooga For the First Time

NE10 Champion Comes From Behind to Win Super Regional

Box Scores -- Game 1 I Game 2 I Game 3

Release from Pace Athletics

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University softball team made history on Friday afternoon, defeating Wilmington University of Delaware in back-to-back games to capture the NCAA East Regional Championship and secure their first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Finals.

Behind stellar pitching and clutch performances up and down the lineup, the Setters delivered a statement at the Pace Softball Field, adding a new chapter to the program's storied rise. Led by head coach Claudia Stabile, the Blue and Gold closed out the regional with 8-0 and 5-1 wins, etching their name in program history.

Game One
  • In the opener, the Setters wasted no time establishing control. After being held scoreless through the first two innings, Pace erupted in the top of the third. With the bases loaded following singles from Alexa Borino and Riley Jenkins, Willa Poplawski delivered a thunderous grand slam to straightaway center field, launching the Setters to a 4-0 lead.
  • Poplawski's slam, the first of her career, set the tone for the rest of the game. From there, Gisselle Garcia was nearly untouchable in the circle. The NE10 and East Region Pitcher of the Year kept the Wildcats' bats in check as Wilmington managed to push only one runner past second base in the game.
  • Pace padded their lead in the top of the seventh, putting the game away with another four-run frame. After a walk to Jenkins and an error, Raelle Gorman crushed a two-run double to right field, followed by a two-run single from Sophie Valle, giving the Setters an 8-0 cushion.
  • With the eight-run advantage, Garcia returned to the circle where she put the finishing touches on Pace's game two victory.
  • Poplawski's grand slam ignited the squad and set the tone for another dominant performance. The 8-0 shutout win, put the Blue and Gold one win away from their first regional title in program history.
Game Two
  • With the championship within reach, the Setters stayed locked in during the afternoon rematch. Alyssa Smart got the start and delivered six efficient innings, and Pace again used timely hitting to command the game from start to finish.
  • After a scoreless first, Pace opened the scoring in the second inning. Poplawski continued her red-hot day with a lead-off double to right, later scoring on an RBI by Brianna Shea, putting the Setters up 1-0.
  • In the fifth, Pace pushed their lead to 3-0. Valle reached on an infield single, and Borino dropped a perfect bunt single before stealing second to put runners in scoring position. Matsuda then delivered the big hit, a two-run single up the middle to score both runners.
  • Wilmington cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom half, but Smart maintained her composure in the circle. After allowing a single and a walk, she forced a ground-out and allowed just a sacrifice fly before ending the Wildcats' threat.
  • In the seventh, the Setters secured the title with more two-out magic at the plate. After loading the bases, Poplawski came through ripping a two-run single up the middle, pushing the Setters ahead, 5-1.
  • Smart exited after six strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits as Garcia returned in the seventh to seal the regional title. With a 1-2-3 inning that ended with a pop-up to the shortstop, Matsuda, the team stormed the field in celebration. The 5-1 victory officially cemented the 2025 Setters squad their place in school history, punching the ticket to the NCAA Division II Championship Finals.
Box Score Insights 
  • Garcia was sensational once again, tossing a complete-game, four-hit shutout with three strikeouts in game one before closing out game two with one strikeout and the final three outs of the regional tournament. Additionally, the senior pitcher set a new program record for career (79) and single-season (28) wins in the circle.
  • Offensively, Poplawski had a career day for Pace, driving in six RBIs, off five hits (5-for-8), while scoring three times. Overall, her performance will go down as one to remember on the biggest stage of the season so far.
  • Smart was outstanding in the circle during game two, posting six innings, two strikeouts, and one earned run to guide the Setters to their regional title.
  • Matsuda had a strong afternoon in the batter's box, producing two RBIs and two runs, behind a 3-for-8 effort.
  • Borino (3-for-7), Jenkins (3-for-7), and Valle (2-for-7) all tallied multi-hit afternoons as the Setters' offense commanded both contests.
  • Altogether, the Setters dominated the Wildcats in game two and three of the series, totaling 19 hits, zero errors, while outscoring their opponents, 13-1.
Quotes to Remember
  • When asked about her standout grand-slam from game one, Poplawski said, "I went up there knowing I wanted to score the runs for my team, and as a four-spot hitter, one of my jobs is bringing in runs and getting on base. I was just thinking about my pitch, being patient, and just wanting to help our team win."
  • After being questioned about the team's resilience and high-pressure situations, Smart said, "People look at having your backs against the wall as a bad thing, but I think it allows us to play to our fullest potential." Following her statement, Garcia added, "Pressure makes diamonds".
  • Following a question about playing postseason games in front of a home crowd, Garcia mentioned, "It's such a nice change of pace and was a big advantage for us to finally have all our home energy, it was a full circle moment."
Up Next (2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Finals)
The two victories move Pace to 46-11 on the season and mark a historic first NCAA Division II East Region Championship for the program. The Setters now head to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to compete among the nation's best for an opportunity at a National Championship.

With contributions from every part of the lineup and elite pitching, the Setters are proving they belong among the nation's elite, and they're not finished yet.

Pace now advances to the 2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Finals, set to begin next week in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with official match-ups still to be determined.
 

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