BASEBALL TAKES THREE OUT OF FOUR FROM ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

PETERSBURG, VA - The Pace University baseball team opened their 2008 campaign taking three out of four games from regional foe Saint Thomas Aquinas College at the Sports Complex in Petersburg, VA. The Setters swept a doubleheader on Saturday, 7-4 and 6-5, before splitting the Sunday twin bill, dropping 10-8, in the opener and winning 3-0 in the series finale. Pace is 3-1 to start the season, while St. Thomas Aquinas begins the year 1-3.

Sophomore Frank Luongo (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) (1-0) picked up the victory in the opener tossing 4.1 innings of relief allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out five batters. Classmate Mackenzie King (Blairstown, NJ /North Warren Regional) picked up the save getting the final two outs of the game. Joel Violette (0-1) took the loss allowing six runs, three earned, on five hits, while fanning six.

Freshman Michael Sciarretta (Stamford, CT/Stamford) (1-0) earned his fist collegiate victory in the nightcap of the double dip pitching a scoreless 11^th inning, while Mark Fochesato (0-1) was the losing pitcher on record allowing an unearned run and three walks, while striking out four in three innings of relief. Senior Dustin Corbett (Vestal, NY/Vestal) (Vestal, NY/Vestal) started the game for Pace going six strong innings, surrendering two runs on six hits and a pair of walks, while striking out a career-high 13 batters. Junior Denis Alimonti (Jefferson Valley, NY/Lakeland) (Jefferson Valley, NY/Lakeland) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11^th inning on a fielding error by the right fielder. Alimonti drew a walk to reach base and would later steal second to get in position to score the eventual game winner. Sophomore Mike Torello (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) went 2-for-5 in the game, with a pair of RBI's and a run scored.

St. Thomas Aquinas avoided the weekend sweep rallying in the top of the ninth inning of the third game. Mike Triana began the inning with a walk and would come around to score on a double to right center by Kevin Connors, which tied the game at 8. John Mazzello would give the Spartans the lead hitting a triple to right center scoring Connors and Mazzello would come into score on a single by Vincent Malzahn, capping the three-run inning. Sophomore Aaron Zrenda (Niantic, CT/Loomis Chaffee Prep) (Niantic, CT/Loomis Chaffee Prep) (0-1) took the loss allowing three runs on three hits and a walk. Chris Schoepe (1-0) picked up the win tossing 4 innings in relief and allowing one unearned run on two hits, while striking out three. Jon Della Monica picked up the save pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Setters took the final game of the weekend 3-0 behind a strong pitching performance by sophomore hurler Kevin Vieira (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull), who tossed a complete game seven-inning shutout, while ringing up 11 strikeouts. Matt Rigoli (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) provided the offense driving in all three runs, one on a sacrifice fly in the second and the final two on a two-run single in the sixth.

For the four game series, junior transfer Joe Cotone (Yorktown Hts., NY/Lakeland) (Yorktown Hts., NY/Lakeland) hit .400(6-for-15) with a double and a pair of triples, scoring four runs and driving in an RBI, while seniors Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) and Chris Brown (West Kingston, RI/South Kingston) each drove in four RBI's in the series. Cawley was also 2-for-3 in stolen bases.

The Setters return to action this Tuesday, March 4^th as Pace is scheduled to play their 2008 home opener against regional foe Post University. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.