PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team scored a season-high 24 runs as the Setters rolled to a 24-4 victory over Caldwell University Tuesday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field. The Setters improve to 18-13 overall with the win, while the Cougars drop to 7-14.
The fourth and fifth innings highlighted Pace's greatest offensive day of the season, as the Setters batted around in both innings. They knocked in nine runs in the fourth, and added five more in the fifth. The Setters also kicked off the game with five runs in the bottom of the first, sending eight batters to the plate in the opening frame.
Junior first baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) hit his first home run of the season, and finished with an enormous game. He went 4-for-4 from the dish, knocking in five RBIs and scoring twice. He added a double to his afternoon as well.
Senior catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) hit the second home run of his career on Tuesday, just two days after hitting his first. He went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, and his solo shot capped off the five-run first for Pace.
Sophomore left fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) batted a perfect 3-for-3 on the afternoon, scoring four times and knocking in three runs. He also doubled in the game. Junior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) hit 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot, doubling twice, scoring two runs and knocking in another. Junior right fielder
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) also joined the three-hit party in the outfield, hitting 3-for-4 with four runs and three RBIs. Like his fellow outfielders, he doubled in the game as well.
Graduate shortstop
Brett Bittiger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pius X) went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in the win. Senior second baseman
Andrew Coffey (Greenwich, CT/Old Avon Farms) hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Freshman shortstop
Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep), who took over for Bittiger later in Tuesday's contest, hit 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Junior designated hitter
Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) hit 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Junior
James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) made just his second relief appearance of the season, but managed to go five innings and allow just one run, picking up his first win of the year. Sophomore
Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) tossed the last two frames of the game, and did not allow a single hit.
Caldwell's Anthony Tornatore took the loss after giving up five runs in 2/3 of an inning. Designated hitter Michael Bernstein batted 2-for-2 for the Cougars with a double. Catcher Justin Jeannette hit 1-for-1, scoring once and knocking in two runs.
After a huge offensive output on Tuesday, the Setters will look to keep the momentum rolling, as they face a crucial Northeast-10 Southwest Division matchup with Adelphi University tomorrow, April 13, at Finnerty Field. The game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
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