PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.- The Pace baseball team exploded for 27 hits in two games as the Setters took two from the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College. The Setters improve their record to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference play, while the Purple Knights drop to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Pace took the opener in thrilling fashion, taking the win 8-7 in 12 innings, while cruising in the nightcap by a score of 10-0.
In the opener, the Setters got off to a strong start as Brandon Martineson (Prospect, KY/Warwick (NY)) (Prospect, KY/Warwick) gave Pace a 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI double. Charlie Galasso (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) and Martineson added run scoring singles in the fifth inning the stake Pace to a 3-0 lead.
The Purple Knights rallied with four runs in the seventh with the key hit coming from George Buteau who had a three-run homerun. The Setters answered in the eighth as Jon Kovel (Schenectady, NY/Scotia Glenville) (Schenectady, NY/Scotia Glenville) had an RBI single to tie the score at six, while Paul Iasiello (Westborough, Mass/Westborough) (Westborough, MA/Westborough) put Pace back in front with an RBI single. Chris Gili (Manorville, NY/Eastport-South Manor) (Manorville, NY/Eastport-South Manor) gave the Setters a two-run lead with a sacrifice fly as the teams headed to the ninth inning. Saint Michael's forced the extra innings as the Purple Knights tied the score at six.
In extra innings, the teams played a scoreless tenth and eleventh inning but saw the game coming to a thrilling conclusion in the twelfth. The Purple Knights rallied with a run in the 12th but left a runner stranded at third as the inning ended. The Setters quickly tied the score as James Pjura (Shelton, CT/Shelton) (Shelton, CT/Shelton) led off the Pace half of the inning with a solo homerun to right field. Pace was not done as they loaded the bases with one out. Gili saw the count go to 3-2 and drew the walk-off walk to give the Setters a thrilling come from behind win.
For the Setters, Bobby Horn (Stamford, CT/Westhill) (Stamford, CT/Westhill) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Gili and Martineson both had two RBI's. Neil Pezzullo (Harwich, MA/Harwich) (Harwich, MA/Harwich) went the first six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits and struck out seven. Josh Grant (Corning, NY/Corning Painted Post West) (Corning, NY/Corning Painted Post West) tossed two innings, allowing two runs on two hits and struck out one, while Robert Rizzitelli (Monroe, CT/Masuk) (Monroe, CT/Masuk) allowed two runs in the ninth on two hits. Eddie Byrne (Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) (Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) came on for three innings in relief, earning the win to improve to 1-1 on the season, as he allowed one run on three hits and struck out three.
In the nightcap, the game was scoreless until the sixth when the Setters sent 11 batters to the plate as they totaled seven runs in the frame. Pjura got Pace on the board with an RBI single, while Ian Wukitsch (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) had a key two run double. The Setters added four more runs in the inning for a 7-0 lead. The Setters added some insurance runs in the seventh as Tom Midolo (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) came up with a two-run double as part of a three run inning.
In the second game, Pjura scored twice, while Wukitsch went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's. On the hill, Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) tossed a four-hitter over eight innings as he struck out two. Tim Deegan (Levittown, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, recording one strikeout.
The Setters are back on the field on Sunday, March 24 as they will host the Hawks of Saint Anselm College for an NE-10 doubleheader at Finnerty Field. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12 pm.
