PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team went to extra innings for the second time in as many home games at Peter X. Finnerty Field on Wednesday, this time falling to Adelphi University in 11 innings, 3-1. The Setters winning streak halts at five, as they fall to 15-8 overall and 3-1 in the NE-10. Adelphi rises to 11-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Pace and Southern Connecticut State University played 14 innings in the Setters' last home game on Saturday. Pace came out on top in that one, 4-3, on junior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South)'s walkoff single in the bottom of the 14th.
Each team picked up a run early on, but that was the end of the scoring until the 11th frame. Adelphi's Brandon Morse picked up an RBI single with two away to make it a 2-1 game, and then left fielder Eric Hassell scored on a passed ball, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead. The Setters were unable to rally in the home half of the 11th, ending the game.
The Setters got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Graduate shortstop
Brett Bittiger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pius X) legged out an infield single with one away. Kukura then blasted a double into left field, but a good relay by Adelphi led to Bittiger being tagged out trying to score. With Kukura now on third, senior second baseman
Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) skied a double over the left fielder, giving the Setters a 1-0 advantage.
Adelphi quickly responded in the top of the fourth. After getting center fielder Michael Cattani over to second, a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt led to Cattani scoring, tying the game at one.
Kukura hit 3-for-4 with a double and a run for the Setters. Coffey batted 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Bittiger hit 2-for-4 as well.
Graduate starter
Tim Deegan (Levittown, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) went beyond a usual complete game, tossing 9.2 frames and allowing just five hits and no earned runs. Senior reliever
Mike Sweeney (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) shouldered the loss after coming on in relief in the 10th.
Adelphi's TJ Santiago got the win after going two scoreless innings in relief. Steven Kuhn came on and pitched a clean 11th for the save. Starter Jonathon Mulford went eight innings, allowing one run and seven hits.
Seven different Panther hitters had one hit in Wednesday's matchup. Morse had the only RBI in a 1-for-2 outing.
Pace will look to put Wednesday's tough loss in the rear view, as the Setters host Bentley University for a two-game series on Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2. Friday's contest is set for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.
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