Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. -- Despite taking an early lead, the Adelphi University softball team fell to the Pace University Setters for the first time this season, 5-2, in the semifinals of the Northeast-10 Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Setters claimed the NE-10 Championship later on Saturday afternoon, by defeating Southern New Hampshire 7-4.

Junior Fallon McCarthy hit her first career home run to put Adelphi (29-20) in front 1-0 in the second inning, but the Setters' Larissa Labs stroked a three-run double off Lindsay Mapes in the bottom of the inning to put Pace ahead for good.

The Panthers attempted to stage a two-out rally against Kaitlynn Nelson in the fourth, as they loaded the bases when McCarthy was hit by a pitch and Christina Palmenteri and Brenna Martini walked. Nelson also issued a free pass to Nicole Camera with the bases full to force in a run and make it 3-2, but rebounded to get Megan Lewis on a sharp groundout to third to end the inning.

After walking two more Panthers to lead off the fifth, Nelson exited in favor of Caitlin McCann, but the Brown and Gold were unable to push a run across to tie or take the lead, and were turned aside. Pace added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as four out of the first five batters singled off Mapes to make it 5-2. Although Mapes struck out the final two hitters looking in the sixth, the Panthers went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.

The Panthers, who checked in at No. 3 in the latest edition of the NCAA East Regional rankings last week, will wait to hear if their name is called for an at large bid for the NCAA tournament, which begins next week. The Division II softball selection show will be held at 11 am on Monday, May 2 and can be watched live at NCAA.com. 

NOTES
- Adelphi is bidding to reach the NCAA East Regional for the fifth straight year.
- McCarthy is the third junior Panther to hit her first career home run this season, after classmates Stephanie Staiano and Palmenteri.

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About Adelphi University Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 16 regular season conference titles, 21 tournament championships, 27 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 President's Cup twice (2013 and 2014), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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