WORCESTER, Mass. – The Pace University baseball team played its first road doubleheader of the season on Saturday, splitting with Assumption College in a Northeast-10 Conference cross-divisional twinbill in Worcester. The Setters picked up the win in the opener, 8-6, but fell in Game 2, 2-1.
 
GAME 1: PACE 8, ASSUMPTION 6
SCORING PLAYS
Top 2nd – Pace
- Senior right fielder Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) opened the second with a single to center.
- Capaldi then stole second, and then junior shortstop Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) was hit by a pitch, giving him first base, but also forcing him from the game.
- Sophomore Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) took over for Piccolino, and then he and Capaldi were both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by graduate student catcher Frank Mayo (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley).
- Junior third baseman Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) then singled up the middle to bring in Capaldi to get the Setters on the board.
- Senior center fielder John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Iafrate to put the Setters up, 2-0.
 
Top 3rd – Pace
- Senior designated hitter Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) walked with two down to keep the inning going.
- Capaldi then doubled to center, putting both runners in scoring position.
- Iafrate followed with a double of his own, plating both runners to put the Setters ahead, 4-0.
 
Bottom 4th – Assumption
- An error with the bases loaded allowed two runs to score for the Greyhounds, bringing them back within two at 4-2.
 
Top 7th – Pace
- Like in the third, Luongo drew a walk with two away to keep the inning alive.
- Capaldi then reached on an error to put two runners on.
- Iafrate then singled to left-center, scoring Luongo to put Pace up, 5-2.
- With the bases loaded, a passed ball scored Capaldi to make it a four-run game.
- Kurdewan then reached on an error, allowing two runs to score and give the Setters an 8-2 advantage.
 
Bottom 7th – Assumption
- With two on and two out, catcher Andrew Jaehnig singled to center, plating a run for the Greyhounds to make it 8-3.
 
Bottom 8th – Assumption
- Shortstop Hunter Tralli led off the eighth with a double, and was quickly knocked in by left fielder Trevor McQuade on a single to left to bring the home team back within four.
 
Bottom 9th – Assumption
- A walk and a single put two on with nobody out for the Greyhounds in the ninth.
- A wild pitch then put both runners in scoring position.
- First baseman Jake Byrne later singled up the middle with the bases loaded, bringing in two runs to draw within two, but junior closer Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) was able to work his way out of trouble, getting the next three batters out to help Pace hold on for the win.
 
GAME 1 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) (5-1)
Loss: Kevin O'Connor (2-3)
 
Pitching Notes
- Aquino tossed six innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
 
GAME 1 SETTER STATS
- Iafrate batted 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a double to help Pace pick up the Game 1 win.
- Capaldi hit 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a double.
- Mayo batted 1-for-2 with a run, while Kukura went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Kurdewan knocked in a run after going 1-for-4.
 
GAME 1 GREYHOUND LEADERS
- Second baseman Jared Brescia hit 2-for-3 with two runs.
- Designated hitter R.J. Libby batted 2-for-5 with two runs.
- Jaehnig finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Byrne knocked in two runs after hitting 1-for-5.
 
GAME 2: ASSUMPTION 2, PACE 1
SCORING PLAYS
Bottom 1st – Assumption
- Jaehnig hit a solo homer with two away to give the Greyhounds a quick 1-0 lead.
 
Top 2nd – Pace
- Junior left fielder Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) reached on an error to lead off the second.
- Luongo then doubled to right, putting two runners in scoring position.
- Kurdewan later singled in Gulino to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
Bottom 4th – Assumption
- With two runners on, right fielder Kevin Quinlivan singled, and an error allowed a runner to score, putting the Greyhounds ahead, 2-1.
 
GAME 2 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win: Mike Curtis (3-3)
Loss: Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) (2-3)
 
Pitching Notes
- Junior starting pitcher Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) tossed seven innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out seven batters.
- Assumption starter Mike Curtis allowed one earned run in nine innings for the win.
 
GAME 2 SETTER STATS
- Kurdewan hit 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Junior shortstop Jim Thorpe IV (Naugatuck, CT/Holy Cross) and sophomore catcher Michael Barbato (Sparkill, NY/Tappan Zee) each batted 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2 GREYHOUND LEADERS
- Jaehnig batted 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
- Quinlivan hit 1-for-2.
 
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 16-9 (6-2 NE10)
Assumption: 9-14 (2-6 NE10)
 
UP NEXT:
- Pace returns home to take on Merrimack College on Sunday, April 9, for another cross-divisional doubleheader. Game 1 is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
 
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