PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – A back-and-forth matchup went the way of the visitors on Sunday, as the Pace University baseball team dropped its series finale to Le Moyne College by a score of 9-7 in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division action at Peter X. Finnerty Field.
SCORING PLAYS
Top 3rd – Le Moyne
- Right fielder Mark Martin walked to open the inning, and a sacrifice bunt led to two runners getting on base.
- Martin then stole third to put runners on the corners, and was brought in to score when first baseman Brian Cox grounded into a double play, putting the Dolphins up, 1-0.
Bottom 4th – Pace
- Senior designated hitter
James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) kept the inning going with a two-out double down the left-field line.
- He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored when senior catcher
Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) singled through the left side, tying the game at 1-1.
Top 5th – Le Moyne
- With the bases loaded, center fielder Donato DiNorcia scored from third on a wild pitch, giving the Dolphins a 2-1 lead.
Bottom 5th – Pace
- Senior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, and was then sacrificed over to second.
- Senior third baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) drew a walk, but was forced out at second when junior first baseman
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) hit into a fielder's choice, leaving runners on the corners with two away.
- Senior right fielder
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) came through with a single through the hole scoring Kukura to tie the game at 2-2.
Top 6th – Le Moyne
- Catcher Gabe Levanti reached on a bunt single with one away, and then shortstop Josiah Gray drew a walk.
- DiNorcia later walked with two down to load the bases, and Cox knocked in two runs on a single to right to put the Dolphins ahead, 4-2.
- With the bases loaded again, third baseman Camillo Spinoso and designated hitter Nick Place drew back-to-back walks, scoring two more runs to make it a 6-2 game.
Bottom 6th – Pace
- Wynne walked to open the sixth, and Mayo followed with a single through the left side.
- Sophomore second baseman
Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) then reached on an error, loading the bases with nobody out.
- Kukura singled through the left side, plating Wynne to make it a 6-3 game.
- Sophomore shortstop
Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) then singled into left-center, scoring Mayo to cut the deficit to four.
- With two down, Capaldi was hit by a pitch, bringing in Iafrate to get the Setters within a run.
- Senior designated hitter
Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) then provided the big hit of the inning, a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Setters on top, 7-6.
Top 8th – Le Moyne
- Cox opened the eighth with a single, and then Spinoso drew a walk.
- Place then knocked in Cox on a single into right, tying the game at 7-7.
- Later in the inning, Levanti singled through the right side, scoring two runs to give Le Moyne a 9-7 advantage.
PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Cody Barnes (2-1)
Loss:
Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) (1-2)
Save: Josiah Gray (10)
SETTER STATS
- Mayo batted 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
- Salmonese finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
- Kukura hit 2-for-5, scoring two runs and knocking in another.
- Wynne went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs.
- Capaldi knocked in two runs after going 1-for-5, and Luongo matched him with two RBIs in a 1-for-5 effort.
DOLPHIN LEADERS
- Cox went 4-for-6 with two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base.
- Place batted 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
- Levanti hit 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
- DiNorcia finished 2-for-3, scoring twice.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 23-13 (12-6 NE10, 5-5 SW)
Le Moyne: 24-12 (11-4 NE10, 8-3 SW)
UP NEXT:
- The Setters play next on Tuesday, April 25, when they visit Caldwell University for a non-conference matchup. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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