PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team took home the Northeast-10 Conference's Southwest Division Regular Season Title in 2015. The Setters did so despite not having a true home field for the entirety of the season while the brand new Peter X. Finnerty Field was being constructed. Now that the new Finnerty Field has been completed, the Setters will look to add home field advantage to the list of reasons to be optimistic for 2016.
 
"We were road warriors, even when we were the home team," said Head Coach Henry Manning. "Getting a full fall of playing on the new field and practicing there now is certainly a welcome change from last year."
 
Pace went 21-18 overall and 12-8 against the NE-10 en route to the Southwest Division Title. The Setters fell to Adelphi University in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament, finishing one game short of the double-elimination round of the tournament. Manning said that he wants his team to get to that next round this year because he knows his team can be dangerous in that format.
 
"We definitely want to get to the double-elimination part of the NE-10 Tournament this time," said Manning. "Our goal is to win that conference tournament outright, but we know we could have done it last year if we got past that first one."
 
The Setters' new turf field opened for play during the fall season. In addition to the turf, it has a full scoreboard, lights, and a press box with additional seating behind home plate. After a strong season that led to a Division Title a year ago, the addition of a home field sets the Setters up to take things to the next level.
 
"The guys coming back kept their focus on the road for home games, so doing the same mental preparation this year will be huge," said Manning. "They like the field and with the new locker rooms, dugouts and everything else, we can't make any excuses."
 
Another advantage for Pace in 2016 is the experienced group of returning players. The Setters bring back seven starters from last year's lineup, as well as three regular starters from the rotation. They have five senior pitchers this season that all bring a wealth of experience to the table.
 
Senior Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) recorded a 2.77 ERA and went 4-3 in 2015. Opposing batters hit just .224 against him in 10 appearances and eight starts. His efforts earned him a spot on the 2015 Northeast-10 All-Conference Third Team.
 
Senior Dylan Mouzakes (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills) made just two starts last season, but in 12 appearances, he registered a 2.51 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. Grad student Tim Deegan (Levittown, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) finished 3-1 on the year with five starts and 11 appearances, while senior Mike Sweeney (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) made three starts and went 1-1 on the season. Senior Michael Forgione (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) enters his third season for the Setters and has a 3.71 ERA in 16 appearances over his first two years.
 
Senior Ryan Mihalkovitz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) returns to the pitching staff after missing nearly all of the past two seasons. Coach Manning mentioned that Mihalkovitz could be a sleeper and add great depth to the rotation if he is able to return to form.
 
The starting lineup should look mostly familiar with so many everyday players returning from last season. Junior John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) enters the season as a 2016 Preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-East Region Second Teamer. He is also a two-time Northeast-10 All-Conference selection and was picked for the Second Team in 2015. He hit .307 with 24 runs and 17 RBI while starting all 39 games at a variety of positions.
 
Senior Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) is set to return to his role behind the plate this season. He made 27 starts and hit .260 for the season. He also caught 18 runners attempting to steal and made just three errors in 199 chances. Senior Nick LoBello (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) started all 39 games at third base last year and hit .309 on the season, which leads all returning players. He hit 10 doubles and knocked in 18 runs, while also drawing a team-best 20 walks.
 
Junior Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) only joined the Setters in the spring last season. Despite the lack of a fall season, he still led the Setters with 20 RBI, and also hit three home runs while making 25 starts. Grad student Brett Bittiger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pius X) made 34 starts in 2015, and provided 12 RBI and 22 hits. Senior Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) made 29 starts a year ago, scored 15 runs and tied with Bittiger for a team-high seven sacrifice hits. Sophomore Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) stole six bases on six attempts last year, scoring 13 runs and knocking in 12 more.
 
The Setters also added some experienced transfers to the squad who will look to play as much as possible. Junior Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) joins Pace from UConn Avery Point, where he hit .336 with 50 hits. He hit 14 extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs, knocked in 42 RBI and scored 30 runs. Grad student Alec Petrone (Yorktown, NY/Mahopac / Marist College) comes to Pace from Marist College, where he played 70 games at the Division I level, was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team three times and earned MAAC Rookie of the Week during his freshman season.
 
"I like our team, it's an experienced team, we just have to come to play every day," said Manning. "I'm happy with the nucleus of returning players, and if we hit, we'll definitely have more wins than losses."
 
The Setters kick things off this Sunday, Feb. 28, with a recently added game against Dowling College at the new Finnerty Field. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. They will then host Bloomfield College twice this coming week, taking on the Bears on Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 3, at Finnerty Field. Both games are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
 
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