Box Score CARY, N.C. – Freshman Paul Piccolino went 3-5 at the dish with a pair of RBIs to help lift the Setters over Dowling on Tuesday by a score of 5-4. Following the victory, Pace now stands at 3-6, 0-0 NE-10.

After Dowling jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Setters responded by tacking on a pair of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Junior designated hitter Tyler Bivona led off the game with a triple for Pace that was followed by a Piccolino single. After Piccolino advanced to second on a wild pitch, senior Tom Midolo knocked him in with a double to center field to put Pace on top 2-1.

Pace starting pitcher Ryan Aquino allowed two more runs in the second but settled down after that as he gave up just one hit over the next two innings.

After three cold innings at the plate, the Setters heated back up in the fifth when they once again were threatening. After two quick outs, Piccolino and Midolo added to their already impressive outings with back-to-back singles. However a fly out later ended the inning and kept the Setters down by one run heading into the sixth frame.

Reliever Jake Amoroso entered the game in the fifth inning and was lights out. After clunking a batter and allowing a single early in his first inning of work, he allowed just two baserunners over the next three innings, one of whom reached on an error.

In the sixth the Setters were able to pull even at 3-3. An error combined with a pair of BB and a single by Brett Bittiger helped to plate Michael Gulino tie the game. Pace looked to pull away when they added a pair of hits in the seventh, but solid defense by the Golden Lions saw the Setters come up empty.

In the eighth, Dowling was able to pull back ahead. Reliever Josh Grant entered the game and gave up his first earned run of the season. After a pair of hits and a stolen base, Dowling plated the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth while trailing by a run, the Setters maintained their composure to regain the lead. After a quick out, Bittier roped a single that was followed by a Bivona double. Now with runners at second and third, Piccolino singled to the pitcher to plate Bittiger and tie the game. Junior Frank Mayo came up next, and registered a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Bivona to put Pace up 5-4 going into the ninth.

Grant was able to lock it down in the top of the ninth. After striking out the first batter he faced, he forced the next two Golden Lions to hit into pop outs as the Setters earned the 5-4 comeback victory.

Piccolino scored a run in addition to going 3-5 with two runs batted in. Midolo went 3-3 in the game with an RBI while Bivona went 2-5 with a pair of runs scored. Bittiger went 2-4 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in.

On the mound, Aquino got the start and tossed four innings while allowing three earned runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. Amoroso tossed three innings of shutout baseball in relief while Grant earned the win after tossing two innings while allowing one run.

The Setters return to the diamond tomorrow when they play Dowling at 11:30 a.m. to conclude their North Carolina road trip.