Pleasantville, N.Y.- The Pace University baseball team opened their 2013 season in Tampa, Fla. against the #3 University of Tampa Spartans at UT Baseball Stadium on Friday. The Setters lost 25-3 and are 0-1 to start the season while the Spartans advance to 8-2.
Tampa got hot early as they capitalized on two hits and an error to put two runs up on the scoreboard.
Brandon Martineson (Prospect, KY/Warwick (NY)) (Prospect, KY / Warwick (NY) and James Pjura (Shelton, CT/Shelton) (Shelton, CT / Shelton) both hit singles in the top of the second and both advanced on wild pitches while Ian Wukitsch (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) (Morristown, NJ / Morristown) was able to reach first on one as well. Mike Rooney (Carmel, NY/Carmel) (Carmel, NY / Carmel) and Bobby Horn (Stamford, CT/Westhill) (Stamford, CT / Westhill) each had RBI's as they each batted in Martineson and Pjura to tie the game at 2-2.
A ground-out by the Spartans and a Pace 2nd -to-1st double-play capped the bottom of the 2nd inning.
The Spartans lit up in the third inning as they got 7 runs on five hits. Their momentum carried into the 4th as they tallied five runs on three hits but didn't stop there, rounding seven runs on three hits and two errors in the bottom of the 5th. The 6th brought three runs on three hits while adding another run in the 7th.
Danny Wynne (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ / Hasbrouck Heights) had a double to right center to open the 8th while Charlie Galasso (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) (West Harrison, NY / Harrison) singled and Alexander Rough (Stamford, CT/Westhill) (Stamford, CT / Westhill) grounded out but advanced both runners. Martineson singled to left field for an RBI, bringing Wynne home for the Setters third and final run.
Neil Pezzulo (Harwich, MA / Harwich) received the loss on two innings pitched, while Eddie Byrne (Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) (Yonkers, NY / Archbishop Stepinac), Mike Jeannetti (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) (Levittown, NY / Island Trees), Robert Perez (Bronx, NY/Trinity Pawling) (Bronx, NY / Trinity Pawling) and Dylan Mouzakes (Dix Hills, NY / Half Hollow Hills) also touched the mound. Martineson, Rooney and Horn all tallied an RBI while Martineson went 3-4 at the plate.
Eric Luksis earned the win for the Spartans and is 2-0 on the season. Jake Schrader led the team with seven RBI's and two homeruns on three hits.
The two teams face-off again tomorrow night at 6 pm at the UT Baseball Field.
