WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The Pace University baseball team and the University of New Haven locked up in a low-scoring Northeast-10 Southwest Division matchup on Wednesday, which saw the Chargers pick up a 3-2 victory at Frank Vieira Field. Pace falls to 26-19 overall and 9-6 in the Southwest with the loss, while New Haven keeps its postseason chances alive by improving to 15-19 on the year and 5-9 in the division.
The Setters fall a half game behind the College of Saint Rose for first place in the Southwest. The Setters have three games left on the schedule, while the Golden Knights still have four to play. Adelphi University sits right behind Pace with a 10-7 record in the division, while Le Moyne College holds the final playoff spot with a 7-7 record. Southern Connecticut State University is a half game out at 7-8. New Haven has four games to play, and remains alive with its 5-9 record. American International College, Pace's opponent this coming weekend, is 5-10, and is yet to be eliminated from postseason contention.
Both teams got strong starts out of their starting pitchers, but New Haven used a three-run third inning to pick up the victory on Wednesday. Starter Luke Foster went eight innings for the Chargers, allowing two runs on six hits to get the win and improve to 2-1. Tim Kennedy recorded his second save with a scoreless ninth, despite allowing two hits and a walk. Senior starter
Dylan Mouzakes (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills) gave up three runs in seven innings to take just his second loss of the season. He fanned seven batters in Wednesday's start.
The Setters got off to a quick start on Wednesday. Junior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) opened the game with a walk, then advanced a base on ground outs in the next two at bats. Junior first baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) then scored Kukura from third on a single to right, putting Pace on top 1-0 before the Chargers got a chance to bat.
The only inning that New Haven was able to string together a rally proved to be the difference. With one on and two away, left fielder Robert Petrillo doubled to center, scoring right fielder Nick Perrelli from first to tie the game. After a walk, catcher TJ Riccio singled in Petrillo to give the home team the lead. First baseman Andrew Garcia then hit another double to center, bringing in third baseman Jack Zagaja, but the relay from Kukura to graduate shortstop
Brett Bittiger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pius X) and then to catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) got Riccio at the plate to end the inning.
Trailing 3-1, the Setters could not get anything going again until the eighth frame. Sophomore left fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) doubled to right to lead off the inning, but the next two batters both flied out. Senior third baseman
Nick LoBello (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) then singled into left, bringing Gulino around to score and get the Setters back within one. That was where the rally ended for Pace, which gave itself a chance to tie in the ninth.
With one down in the ninth, Bittiger drew a walk, and then Kukura singled to third to get things going for Pace. The next batter flied out to center, but Gulino singled to right, loading the bases for Pace. Unfortunately, all three runners were stranded, ending the game.
Gulino hit 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles for Pace in Wednesday's defeat. Kukura went 2-for-4 with a run and his eighth triple of the season, improving upon his new single-season record. LoBello batted 1-for-4 with an RBI, while De Lotto knocked in a run in a 1-for-5 outing.
New Haven was led by Garcia, who batted 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Petrillo hit 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a double.
The Setters complete the regular season with a three-game series up in Springfield, Mass., where they will take on Southwest-Division foe American International College. Game one of the series is set for Friday, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.
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