WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Pace University baseball team closed out its trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with a 9-4 victory over Ohio Dominican University at Chain of Lakes Park, avenging a loss to the Panthers from earlier in the week. The Setters used a four-run rally in the seventh, and stellar work out of the bullpen, to pull of the win on their last day down south.
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st – Pace
- Senior first baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) got things started quickly with a solo homer over the right-field fence to make it a quick 1-0 lead for Pace.
Bottom 1st – Ohio Dominican
- The lead did not last long for the Setters, as an error in the bottom of the first allowed two runs to score and give the Panthers a 2-1 advantage early on.
Top 3rd – Pace
- De Lotto came through again in the third, slapping an RBI single into right field and bringing senior left fielder
James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) around to score and tie the game up at 2-2.
Bottom 3rd – Ohio Dominican
- The Panthers took the lead back again when center fielder Justin Childers managed to steal home and make it a 3-2 game.
Top 4th – Pace
- The scoring continued to go back and forth as junior shortstop
Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) brought in junior center fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) on a sacrifice fly to right, tying things up at 3-3.
Top 7th – Pace
- The Setters broke through with a big rally in the seventh, starting with a big two-RBI double to left by Wynne to give Pace a 5-3 lead.
- De Lotto then provided a sacrifice fly, scoring Wynne from third to make it 6-3.
- Senior designated hitter
Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) then singled into right, bringing Gulino around to score and leave Pace on top, 7-3.
Top 8th – Pace
- The Setters put runners on the corners with one away before Wynne came through with an RBI single to left, scoring senior catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) from third to take an 8-3 lead.
- Gulino then smacked an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring sophomore second baseman
Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) to triple up Ohio Dominican at 9-3.
Bottom 8th – Ohio Dominican
- The Panthers managed to bring in an unearned run on an RBI infield single by shortstop Kyle Burson, cutting Pace's lead down to five, but it would fall no further the rest of the way.
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Kevin Wiltse (East Setauket, NY/Ward Mellville) (1-0)
Loss: Ben Speer (0-1)
Pitching Notes
- Sophomore reliever
Kevin Wiltse (East Setauket, NY/Ward Mellville) came on in relief in the third, and did his job beautifully, tossing 4.2 innings of one-hit, no-earned-run ball. He also struck out three batters.
- Freshman reliever
Lorenzo Russo (East Northport, NY/Commack) struck out two of the three batters he faced, while junior reliever
Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) pitched a perfect ninth.
SETTER STATS
- Wynne knocked in three runs and scored two more after going 2-for-4 with a double. He also stole a base.
- Gulino hit two doubles and finished 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
- De Lotto blasted his second home run of the season in a 2-for-3 outing, knocking in three RBIs and scoring a run.
- Mayo hit 2-for-4 with two runs and a double.
- Salmonese batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Capaldi went 3-for-5.
PANTHER LEADERS
- Childers went 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
- Designated hitter Lee Sponseller hit 1-for-3 with a double.
- Right fielder Colin Kaucher and shortstop Kyle Burson each went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 4-6
Ohio Dominican: 8-3
UP NEXT:
- The Setters return home and are set to take on Queens College in a doubleheader at Peter X. Finnerty Field on Saturday, March 18. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 12 p.m.
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