CARY, N.C. – The Pace University baseball team split a doubleheader on its second day down at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The Setters opened Saturday with a 9-3 victory over Dowling College, but dropped a close 6-4 non-conference matchup with No. 9 Franklin Pierce University to close out the day. Pace moves to 10-7 overall on the year.
 
Game 1: Pace 9, Dowling 3
Senior starter Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) turned in a spectacular start to lift Pace to a matinee victory over Dowling. He tossed eight innings, allowing just one unearned run and five hits. He improves to 3-1 on the year with the win.
 
Like they have done all season long so far, the Setters capitalized on mistakes made by their opponent to gain an early lead in Saturday's early contest. With the bases loaded in the top of the second, sophomore shortstop Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) reached on an error by the shortstop that cleared the bases and left Pace up, 3-0. Dowling managed to get one back on an RBI groundout with runners on second and third, but the Setters led, 3-1, after two.
 
Pace struck again in the top of the fourth. With two on, junior center fielder John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) tripled to left-center, bringing in both runs to make it a 5-1 lead for Pace. Kukura's triple was his fifth of the season, leaving him just one shy of the program's single-season record.
 
Sophomore left fielder Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) led off the fifth with a solo homer to left field to give Pace a five-run lead. Later in the inning, junior designated hitter James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) reached on an infield single with runners on the corners, bringing in junior right fielder Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) from third. Kukura came up later in the inning with the bases loaded, and legged out an infield single to bring another run across to score for Pace. A passed ball allowed Wynne to score, putting Pace up, 9-1, after five. That was all the Setters would need, as Dowling would score just two more runs in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Kukura finished up 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs in the win. Gulino hit 1-for-5 with a solo home run. Capaldi and LoBello each picked up two hits and scored two runs apiece. Piccolino also hit 2-for-4 and scored a run.
 
Third baseman Vinny Orlando led Dowling with a 2-for-3 effort and an RBI. Designated hitter Robert Morse batted 1-for-3 with two runs.
 
Game 2: No. 9 Franklin Pierce 6, Pace 4
The Setters and Ravens faced off for the first time this season down in Cary, N.C. A late rally gave Franklin Pierce a 6-4 victory after a tightly contested matchup.
 
In the top of the first, Franklin Pierce put two runners on with just one away. Designated hitter Chris LaVorgna hit a ground ball to short, setting up Pace for a double play to end the inning. However, the throw to first was wild, allowing a run to score to give the Ravens and early 1-0 lead.
 
The Setters picked up their second baseman in the bottom of the inning. Senior second baseman Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) helped himself out by singling with one down, and then advancing to second on an error. Senior third baseman Nick LoBello (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) walked, and then Gulino doubled them both in to put Pace on top, 2-1, after the first frame.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Ravens had runners on the corners when another error allowed Franklin Pierce to tie the game. Errors became the theme of the game, as Pace took its lead back in the bottom of the sixth on another mistake by the Ravens. With Kukura on third, Capaldi reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Kukura to come home and give the Setters a 3-2 lead.
 
LaVorgna opened the top of the eighth for the Ravens with a double. Right fielder Max DiTondo wasted no time, singling in the next at bat to bring in LaVorgna and tie the game. Later in the inning, second baseman Kurtis White hit a triple, plating DiTondo to put Franklin Pierce on top, 4-3.
 
In the ninth frame, Franklin Pierce brought in two runs on two straight wild pitches to go up, 6-3. Like he did in the fifth inning of game one, Gulino opened the ninth with a solo shot for Pace to get the Setters back within two. The Setters were able to get two runners on in the inning with two away, but were unable to bring them in, falling by two to the nationally-ranked Ravens.
 
Franklin Pierce starter John Amendola improved to 2-1 after tossing 8.2 innings and allowing four runs (three earned). Senior starter Dylan Mouzakes (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills) yielded just two earned runs in seven innings of work, but did not factor into the decision. Senior reliever Mike Sweeney (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) shouldered the loss, falling to 0-3 on the season.
 
Gulino hit 2-for-4 with a home run and a game-high three RBIs to cap off a big day. Kukura hit 2-for-5 once again, scoring a run in the game. Coffey batted 1-for-2 with a run scored and a pair of successful sacrifice bunts.
 
LaVorgna hit 2-for-4 with a run and a double for the Ravens. Left fielder Matt Burns and third baseman Jay Jabs had matching 2-for-3, two-run efforts. DiTondo hit 1-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
 
The Setters conclude their weekend down at the USA Baseball National Training Complex with their fifth meeting with Dominican College of the season Sunday morning. First pitch for the weekend finale is set for 10 a.m.
 
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