SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College softball team took on Pace University in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 22 at Judy Groff Field. The Yellow Jackets dropped the first game, 3-1, but bounced back in the second game to win, 1-0.
Alyssa Camargo started in the circle for AIC in the first game and Kaitlynn Nelson started for Pace.
Pace got to Camargo right from the start as a leadoff triple from Ashley Lew got things started, and then a single from Haley Hernandez followed, putting Pace up one-nothing. Camargo got out of the inning with no more damage though, striking out two of the next three batters she faced.
AIC tied it up immediately though as Kristen Steele got hit by a pitch to get on base, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After that, Yami Lopez-Perez walked, and with the first-and-third situation Lopez-Perez successfully stole second, and Steele scored on the throw to tie the game. That concluded the scoring for the first inning, with the game tied at one heading into the second.
After a scoreless second inning, Lew got things going for Pace again in the top of the third. She led off with a walk and then stole second. After stealing second, a single from Hernandez scored her, putting Pace up 2-1. That was the only run Pace picked up in the inning, as Camargo got an out on the next three batters she faced to escape trouble.
After no runs in the fourth, Pace got on the board again in the fifth with a solo home run from Hernandez. It was her third RBI of the game and her fifth home run of the season. Giving Pace a 3-1 lead.
That was the final score as Pace won game one. Nelson got the win for Pace, and Camargo picked up a loss for AIC.
For the second game, Jillian Bedard started in the circle for AIC, and Jaclyn Flores started for Pace.
The Yellow Jackets drew first blood in this game as Bedard got things started with a single. Then a single from Jamie Mainez came two batters later, and a single from Kayla Riley kept up the trend to load the bases with one out. Keymell Cartwright stepped up to the plate and reached on a fielder's choice, one-two put out. With the bases loaded and two outs the pressure was on for Steele, but she rose to the occasion, getting hit by the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring Mainez. Sarah Baganz flied out to end the inning with AIC leading, 1-0.
Pace threatened in the top of the sixth as Jordan Chillinsky singled to right-center to get things started. A bunt from Larissa Labs went awry for the Yellow Jackets, giving Pace first and third with no one out. Pace put on two pinch runners, but a shallow fly out to right from Nikole Larm didn't get a run in. Then Bedard picked the perfect time to get a strikeout, as Annie Carberry went down swinging. With first and third and two outs, Lindsey Ah Soon stepped up to the plate, but Bedard got her to ground out to Lopez-Perez for a 6-3 putout to end the inning, giving up no runs.
Bedard finished her stellar pitching performance by retiring Pace's batters 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to give AIC the 1-0 win. It was Bedard's first shutout of the season.
With the split doubleheader, AIC is now 15-19 with a 12-9 mark in conference. The two teams will face off again on Sunday, April 23 on AIC's Senior Day.
