PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - - Pace swept a doubleheader from the Wilmington University softball team on Friday, 8-0 and 5-1, to come from behind and defeat the Wildcats, 2-1, in the East Super Regional series to advance to the NCAA Division II Softball National Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Wildcats came into the Super Regional series as back-to-back East Region Champions but were dethroned after winning game one of the series on Thursday. It is the fourth straight trip to the Super Regionals by the Wildcats and the first NCAA Division II Softball National Championship appearance for the Setters.
GAME 1:
Pace only scored in two innings but exploded in those innings for four runs each. The Setters hit a grand slam in the third and tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away.
Karen Sickle worked through the first two innings, leading two on in the top of the second. Kylee Gunkel came on for the third inning and ran into trouble. A walk, single, and one out single loaded the bases. Willa Poplawski then hit a grand slam to center to put Pace on the board, 4-0.
The Wildcats put two on with two outs in the fourth with back-to-back singles by Bella Barnes and Haley Grygo, but they were left stranded. The Setters than scored four more in the top of the seventh to put the game away.
Maddie Vollmar hit a double while Cassidy Zelano, Bella Barnes, and Haley Grygo all had singles in the game.
GAME 2:
Pace earned its first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships with a 5-1 win in game two, completing the doubleheader sweep to come back from the 1-0 series deficit.
A leadoff double came around to score in the top of the second for the Setters and then a pair of singles scored on a third single back up the middle, giving the Setters a 3-0 lead in the fifth.
The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the fifth, getting a leadoff single from Haley Grygo and a walk from Sydney Hatch. Gracie Mabry moved the runners into scoring position, but the Wildcats would only get one in on a sacrifice fly from Eve Serrato.
The Wildcats then got back-to-back singles from Maddie Vollmar and Bella Barnes in the sixth, but both were left stranded as they tried to close the gap. The Setter than added a two-run single in the top of the seventh to bring it to a 5-1 ballgame.
Cassidy Zelano, Maddie Vollmar, Bella Barnes, Haley Grygo, and Sydney Hatch all had hits for the Wildcats.
SENIOR CLASS:
Congratulations to the 2025 senior class of the Wildcats, reaching new heights every season since stepping foot on campus. They've reached the Super Regionals in all four seasons as a Wildcats, reaching two NCAA Division II World Series, winning a game for the first time in Wilmington Athletics history at a finals site in 2024. Unforgettable careers for Tristyn Stewart, Bella Barnes, Eve Serrato, Emma Zimmerman, Delani Sheehan, and Kylee Gunkel.
