PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team erased a two-run deficit in the bottom of the third with a three-run rally, leading to an eventual 7-4 victory for the Setters over Post University Tuesday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field. The Setters improve to 7-6 on the year with the win, while Post drops to 5-10.
Post scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-2 lead over the Setters. Graduate designated hitter
Alec Petrone (Yorktown, NY/Mahopac / Marist College) kicked things off in the bottom of the inning with a single, and then junior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) doubled to left to put runners on second and third. Senior second baseman
Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) then walked to load the bases, but a double play left runners on second and third with two away for the Setters.
Pace then caught a break, as a grounder to third by junior right fielder
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) was thrown over the first baseman, allowing two runs to score and tie the game. Later in the inning, senior catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) singled to right, bringing in the leading, and eventual game-winning run by putting the Setters up, 5-4.
The Setters took an early lead in the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. Kukura led off the game with a triple to right center, and was quickly brought around to score on a single by Coffey. Sophomore left fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) eventually knocked in Coffey on a single to center to leave Pace up, 2-0.
Pace added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh. Graduate shortstop
Brett Bittiger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pius X) led off the inning with a triple, and was brought in by Petrone on a single in the next at bat. Petrone stole second to get into scoring position, and was later knocked in by senior third baseman
Nick LoBello (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) on a bloop single down the left-field line to make it a 7-4 game.
Senior reliever
Ryan Mihalkovitz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) earned the win as the pitcher of record in Tuesday's victory. He went 1.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits. Graduate reliever
Tim Deegan (Levittown, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) later came on to throw four scoreless innings, striking out five batters and scattering just two hits. Senior reliever
Mike Sweeney (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) came in to close it out in the ninth, and allowed just one baserunner en route to his first save of the season. Post starter Tyler Kovalewich took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) in six innings.
Kukura went 2-for-4 with two runs, a triple and a double. Mayo went 2-for-3 and knocked in the game-winning RBI. Petrone also hit 2-for-3, scoring once and bringing in another run. Gulino matched them with his own 2-for-3 outing with an RBI. Coffey batted 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Post center fielder Alex Wright went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Shortstop Shawn Boston also hit 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The Setters will look to make it four wins in a row on Thursday, March 17, as they play host to Concordia College at Peter X. Finnerty Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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