RINDGE, N.H. – Junior center fielder John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) led off Sunday's doubleheader with a triple, his sixth of the season, tying the Pace University baseball team's program record set originally by Kevin Gallagher in 1973, and tied in 1995 by Tom Raymond. The Setters lost both ends of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at No. 3 Franklin Pierce University by scores of 15-3 and 9-7 at Pappas Field. Pace drops to 17-13 overall and 5-6 in NE-10 play, while Franklin Pierce improves to 28-3 and 10-1.
 
Game 1: No. 3 Franklin Pierce 15, Pace 3
Kukura opened the day with a triple to right-center, setting the Setters up with a chance to score right from the jump. The next two batters were unable to bring him in, but after junior right fielder Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) walked, a failed attempt to pick him off led to Kukura scoring from third and giving the Setters a 1-0 lead before the Ravens got a chance to bat.
 
The third-ranked Ravens put up four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead. They added another two in the third to make it 6-1. In the top of the fourth, Capaldi and junior first baseman Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) hit back-to-back singles to open the inning, and then sophomore third baseman Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) sacrificed them both into scoring position. Senior catcher Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) came through with a two-RBI single to center, cutting the deficit to three runs.
 
Franklin Pierce picked up another run in the fifth, then added four runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to pick up the 15-3 victory.
 
Dylan Dennis got the win for Franklin Pierce, becoming the pitcher of record after taking over in the top of the fourth. Senior starter Michael Forgione (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) took his first loss of the year to drop to 2-1.
 
Kukura went 1-for-4 with a run and his record-tying triple in Sunday's opener. Mayo hit 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He also caught four batters trying to steal in the game. Capaldi and De Lotto each batted 1-for-3 with a run.
 
Franklin Pierce was led by first baseman Matthew O'Herron, who hit 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs. Second baseman Kurtis White went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a run and a triple.
 
Game 2: No. 3 Franklin Pierce 9, Pace 7
The Setters offense found more of a rhythm in Sunday's finale. They strung together nine hits and seven runs, including a four-run rally in the seventh that got them within striking range, but the Ravens managed to hang on late for a 9-7 win.
 
Franklin Pierce brought in two runs in the bottom of the first, but junior designated hitter Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) tied the game in the top of the second with a two-run homer, the first of his career.
 
Through the sixth inning, Franklin Pierce improved its lead to 8-2. The Setters then strung together big seventh inning to get back into the game. With two on, Luongo smacked a looping liner into left for a double, scoring Piccolino. Kukura later singled through the left side to score Mayo and make it a four-run game. Senior second baseman Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) kept the rally going with an RBI single to center that plated Luongo, and Capaldi brought in the fourth run on a ground out to second, scoring Kukura to make it an 8-6 game.
 
In the top of the eighth, Mayo continued his strong day with the first home run of his four-year career, a solo shot to left, getting the Setters back within a run. Franklin Pierce then put a run on the board in the eighth to give the home team more breathing room. Kukura was hit by a pitch to open the ninth, but was the only Setter to reach base in the inning, giving the Ravens the two-run win.
 
Zach Hart got the win for the Ravens despite allowing six runs across 6.1 innings. Sophomore starter Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) shouldered his first loss of the season to drop to 2-1.
 
Luongo hit 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs, a home run and a double in a big game for the junior. Mayo batted 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI to complete a strong day. He also threw out three more runners attempting to steal, totaling seven on the day. Capaldi hit a double and knocked in a run in a 1-for-5 outing.
 
Third baseman Jay Jabs went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Ravens. Center fielder Maxx Sheehan hit 1-for-3 with three runs, an RBI and a double.
 
After a weekend road trip against two of the top teams in the nation, the Setters return home on Tuesday, April 12, for a non-conference matchup with Caldwell University. Tuesday's contest is set for a 3:30 p.m. start.
 
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