Briarcliff, N.Y. – All-conference selections Shelby Yung and Jeane Drury each had three hits to lead third-seeded Pace University to a 7-5 win over the fourth-seeded Le Moyne College softball team on Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championships at Pace Field.

The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first with one run on three hits in the first inning. Senior all-conference second baseman Sarah Tram (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) singled to center field with one out and then took second on a single up the middle by freshman all-conference center fielder Sabrina Riley (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park). After a pop out, sophomore third baseman Kirsten Trotta (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) singled to the shortstop to drive in Tram.

Pace tied the score in the bottom of the inning without getting the ball past the pitcher's rubber. Yung drew a walk to lead off the frame and Drury followed with a bunt single. After Yung was retired at third as first baseman Natalie Gellos reached on a fielder's choice, designated player Nikole Larm was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Following a strikeout, right fielder Samantha Garcia walked to force in Drury.

Le Moyne regained the lead in the second on one hit. Senior right fielder Stephanie Ostrander (Gansevoort, N.Y./Schuylerville) drew a walk with one out and then stole second base. After an out, freshman shortstop Courtney Case (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) doubled to left to plate Ostrander.

The Setters tied the score again in the bottom of the second on a two-out, solo home run to left field by Yung, who was named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year earlier in the day.

The Dolphins took the lead for the last time in the top of the fourth inning with one run on two hits. Sophomore left fielder Allison Reynolds (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) singled to shortstop with one out and then stole second. After moving to third on a groundout by Case, Reynolds scored on a single up the middle by Tram.

Pace took its first lead in the bottom of the inning on three hits. Third baseman Rachael McMahon singled to right center with one out and then second baseman Lana Buchbinder drew a walk. Yung followed with a double down the right field line to drive in McMahon with the tying run. Drury then blasted a three-run homer to left center for a 6-3 lead.

The Setters added an insurance run on one hit in the sixth inning. Yung led off with a double to right center and then moved to third on a fly out. Gellos followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Yung.

The Dolphins brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, but could not score the tying run. Tram started the rally by reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman with one out. Riley then doubled to right center to knock in Tram and force a Pace pitching change. Senior all-conference designated player Vanessa Utley (Monroe, Ga./Homeschooled) followed with a single to left field to drive in Riley, while taking second base on the throw home. Pace reliever Kaitlynn Nelson induced back-to-back fly outs to right field to end the game.
 
Le Moyne (24-17), which has dropped five of its last seven games, now awaits word on a possible berth into the NCAA Championships. The eight-team East Regional field will be announced on Monday at 10:00 a.m. on NCAA.com. The Dolphins were ranked ninth in last week's NCAA East Region rankings.