PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Senior outfielders
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) and
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) both hit grand slams to help lift the Pace University baseball team to an 13-1 non-conference victory over Bloomfield College Thursday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field. The win was the seventh straight for the Setters, and their 10th victory in their past 11 games.
SCORING PLAYS
Bottom 2nd – Pace
- The Setters had the bases loaded with two away when sophomore second baseman
Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) drew a walk to score the first run of the game for the Setters.
- Kukura then blasted a grand slam over the left-center field wall, bringing in four runs to put Pace ahead, 5-0.
- Sophomore shortstop
Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) followed that with a double to center, and was then knocked in on an RBI single by senior first baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) to leave the Setters up, 6-0, after two.
Bottom 4th – Pace
- Iafrate and Kukura hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners to start the fourth.
- They later attempted a double steal, and an errant throw down to second allowed both runners to be safe, giving the Setters a 7-0 lead.
- De Lotto and junior left fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) walked in consecutive plate appearances to load the bases, and then Capaldi hit a rocket just inside the left-field foul pole for the Setters' second grand slam of the game to make it an 11-0 game.
Top 5th – Bloomfield
- Center fielder Ben Thomas led off with an infield single, then stole second, and advanced to third when the throw went into the outfield.
- Designated hitter Kendon Strachan then grounded out to second, allowing Thomas to score and make it an 11-1 game.
Bottom 7th – Pace
- Freshman
Brian Bohlander (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) pinch hit to lead off the seventh, and came through with a single up the middle.
- Iafrate then dropped a single into right-center, and the ball was misplayed, allowing Bohlander to come around and score and leave Iafrate on third to put the Setters up, 12-1.
- Later in the inning, De Lotto singled up the middle, plating Iafrate to make it a 12-run ballgame.
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) (4-1)
Loss: Mike Hidalgo (0-1)
Pitching Notes
- Junior starter
Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) allowed just one unearned run on four hits with six strikeouts across five frames to pick up his fourth win on Thursday.
- Senior
Jordan Del Sol (Elizabeth, NJ/Wardlaw-Hartridge School/UMass Lowell), freshman
Lorenzo Russo (East Northport, NY/Commack), sophomore
Bryce Donovan (Amherst, NY/St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) and junior
Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) each came on in relief of Aquino, and each tossed a scoreless inning to help secure the win.
SETTER STATS
- Capaldi finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two runs scored and a grand slam in the win.
- Kukura hit 2-for-4 with four RBIs, two runs scored, a grand slam and a stolen base.
- Iafrate batted 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and two stolen bases.
- De Lotto went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
- Salmonese hit 2-for-4 with a run and a double.
BEAR LEADERS
- Strachan went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Third baseman Ramger Iglesias hit 2-for-3.
- Thomas scored a run after going 1-for-4.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 13-7
Bloomfield: 6-8
UP NEXT:
- The Setters get back to work on Friday, March 31, when they take a short trip to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. to take on Mercy College in a non-conference doubleheader. Game 1 is set to begin at 12 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace baseball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics) and Twitter (
@PaceUAthletics), and follow Pace baseball on Instagram (
@PaceBaseball).
