LYNDHURST, N.Y. – Junior Nick LoBello went a combined 5-8 in a doubleheader against NE-10 Southwest rival American International on Saturday. The Setters dropped the first game 8-3, before falling in the nightcap 12-7. Following the loss, Pace stands at 15-14, 8-4 NE-10 Southwest while the Yellow Jackets advance to 9-18, 4-6 NE-10 Southwest.

In the first contest, Michael Gulino recorded the first Pace hit with a ground-rule double in the second frame. The Setters went hitless in the next three innings.

In the seventh inning, LoBello and John Kukura registered back-to-back singles, but consecutive outs ended the threat for Pace.

In the eighth, Cory Capaldi led off the frame with a double, but was unable to advance any further.

In the final inning of the game, the Setters had a pair of baserunners after Gulino was hit by a pitch and Domenick Luongo roped a single to right field. Capaldi took the plate next and absolutely blasted an inside the park homerun to right center. Despite the late comeback attempt, Pace fell to American International 8-3.

Capaldi went 2-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored. LoBello went 2-4 with a pair of singles.

Senior Robert Rizzitelli (2-2) got the start and took the loss after tossing one inning and allowing four earned runs, adding a strikeout. Sophomore Dylan Mouzakes tossed six innings in relief of Rizzitelli and allowed two earned runs over three hits with seven Ks. Mike Sweeney tossed the final two innings and surrendered two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout.

The Setters wasted no time getting on the board in the late game. After Frank Mayo was clunked by a pitch and Tom Midolo cranked a single, LoBello came up next and sent an RBI single through the left side to give Pace a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Capaldi and Isaiah Rivera hit consecutive singles to start the rally. Two batters later, Andrew Coffey sent an RBI-single to center field to plate a runner. Mayo came up with a key hit during the next at bat went he sent a two-run single to left field to give Pace a 4-0 lead.

Pace added three more runs with a big rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Capaldi once again began the rally with a single up the middle. After some shaky Yellow Jacket defense gave the Setters runners at the corners, Coffey plated a run with an RBI single to short. After Midolo made it 6-2 when he reached on an error, LoBello plated the final run of the rally with an RBI-single to left.

American International was able to mount the comeback and win the game after scoring five runs apiece in both the seventh and ninth innings.

LoBello went 3-4 with a pair of RBIs. Mayo went 2-4 at the dish with two RBIs and two runs scored while Coffey went 2-5 with one run and two RBIs. Midolo, Capaldi, and Rivera also each recorded two hits apiece with Rivera adding two runs scored.

Junior Josh Garran got a no decision after starting the game and giving up just three earned runs on three this with six strikeouts. Senior Josh Grant (2-2) took the loss after tossing 2.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits with one K. Jake Amoroso pitched the final two outs of the game and allowed two runs, both unearned.

The Setters return to the diamond tomorrow when they close out the three-game series against AIC on the campus of New Haven at noon.