PURCHASE, N.Y. – Junior righty
Josh Garran allowed just one earned run over seven innings to help the Setters earn a 5-3 victory over NE-10 foe New Haven. Following the win, Pace stands at 9-10, 4-3 NE-10 while New Haven falls to 4-7, 2-3 NE-10.
Garran sat the Chargers down in order in the top half of the first after forcing two quick outs and setting the third batter down on strikes.
Pace got on the board first in the bottom of the opening inning. After a quick groundout,
Frank Mayo reached on a throwing error. The next better,
Tom Midolo, belted a single up the middle to give the Setters runners at the corners. Junior
Nick LoBello came to the dish next and sent a single to left field that plated Mayo.
In the bottom of the second, Pace continued to look good offensively.
Paul Piccolino led off the inning with a single through the left side. After
Michael Gulino dropped a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error, the Setters had runners at first and second. Senior
Brett Bittiger bunted the runners to second and third on the next Pace at bat. Junior
Andrew Coffey came up next and blasted a double down the left field line to score a pair. Two batters later, Midolo sent an RBI double to right field to give Pace a 4-0 lead.
Garran gave up his first hit of the game in the top of the third frame. New Haven smashed back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit to 4-1. Over the next three innings he held the Chargers to just two hits while adding a strikeout.
The Setters managed just one hit in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth frames and were unable to cross the plate, but maintained a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Garran remained in the game in the top of the seventh when he set the Chargers down in order. After forcing a pair of quick fly outs, the third batter sent one to the left side of the infield only to be robbed by Bittiger who made a diving stop and gunned the runner out at first.
The Setters led off the bottom of the seventh with consecutive hits as Midolo and LoBello each recorded singles to give Pace runners at first and second with no outs. However, the New Haven defense forced a double play to help put a halt to the threat.
New Haven crossed the plate again in the eighth to cut the deficit to a pair. After Garran gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning, senior
Tim Deegan entered in relief and stopped the bleeding. After a fielder's choice and a strikeout, New Haven plated a run on a passed ball.
The Setters added on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth after Piccolino led off the frame with a double to left center. Gulino followed with a walk to give the Setters runners at first and second. After back-to-back outs, Mayo sent a single through the left side of the infield to give Pace a 5-3 advantage over the Chargers.
In the top of the ninth inning, New Haven led off with a quick single that was followed by a walk. After another single loaded the bases, the Chargers scored a run on a fielder's choice. With one out and runners on the corners,
Josh Grant entered the game to try and lock down the Setter victory. Grant earned the save after forcing the first batter he faced to hit into a double play.
Midolo led the Setters with three hits, going 3-5 at the dish with an RBI. Coffey went 1-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. LoBello went 2-4 with an RBI while Mayo went 1-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
On the rubber, Garran (3-1) earned the win after tossing seven innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out a pair. In relief, Deegan tossed 1.1 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Grant picked up his first save of the year after tossing the final two outs and allowed no hits or runs.
Pace returns to action on Friday, April 3
rd when they travel to Albany, N.Y. to take on Saint Rose at 3:30 p.m.
