SETTERS SURVIVE FELICIAN RALLY TO WIN, 10-8

Pleasantville, NY- The Setters survived a late Felician rally, defeating the Golden Falcons at Finnerty Field 10-8. Pace improves to 7-1 on the season, while the Falcons drop to 6-9.

Felician struck first in the fourth, as Ray Rose was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. Rose advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. Rose crossed the plate on a two-out double by Kenny Vanderhee.

The Setters exploded in the 5th inning as they sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring nine times. The big hit came from Matt Arburr (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) (Bristol, CT/Bristol) who launched a mamouth shot over the left field wall for a three-run homerun. Later in the inning, Mike Pahira (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and Chris Brown (West Kingston, RI/South Kingstown) had back-to-back singles, while Matt McNichol (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) (Staten Island, NY/ Moore Catholic) drew a walk to load the bases with one out.  Joe Barracato (Westbury, NY/Clarke) (Westbury, NY/Clarke) singled to left, scoring Pahira, but Brown was thrown out at home. During the play, Felician catcher Mike Rooth's throw to third baseman Alex Noguera sailed into leftfield while attempting to throw out McNichol at third, allowing both McNichol and Barracato to score.

Felician rallied in the sixth, as Jarred LoCastro drew a walk and Angel Roman came in to pinch run. Noguera followed with a single to left. Vanderdee ripped a double down the leftfield line scoring both Roman and Noguera. Vin DiBenedetti doubled, driving in Vanderhee. John Tingos capped the Felician inning with a RBI single, allowing DiBenedetti to cross the plate.

Felician tacked on two more in the seventh as Frank Quintana and Rose lead off with back-to-back singles, whiel Roman walked to load the bases. Noguera drew a walk from new Setter pitcher Earl Oakes (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) to score Quintana. Dave Schoer followed with a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Rose to cut the Setter lead to 9-7.

The Setters answered in their half of the seventh with a pair of runs, as McNichol drew a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a single by Barracato. McNichol and Barracato pulled off a double steal of third and second respectively. McNichol scored on a wild pitch by Felician pitcher Jon Long.

Felicna added a run in the eigth as Quintana hit a homerun to left off Oakes to cut the Setter lead to 10-8. Following the conclusion of the Golden Falcons at-bat, the game was called due to darkness.

On the hill, Eric Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) (Norwalk, CT/ Norwalk) picked up his first collegiate win after holding Felician hitless and scoreless over one inning.  Doug Wenz (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) (Trumbull, CT/Westhill) made his collegiate debut, allowing three runs on two hits while walking one over 2/3 of an inning before giving way to Angelo Fusaro (Stamford, CT/Westhill) (Stamford, CT/Westhill).  Oakes picked up his third save of the season after pitching two strong innings.

The Setters will host Concordia on March 16 at 3:00 pm at Finnerty Field on Pace's Pleasantville campus.