PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team closed out a weekend of Northeast-10 Conference cross-division play with a doubleheader sweep of Merrimack College at Peter X. Finnerty Field on Sunday. The Setters shutout the Warriors, 3-0, in Game 1, and then came back from four runs down to pick up a 6-5 victory in the finale.
GAME 1: PACE 3, MERRIMACK 0
SCORING PLAYS
Bottom 4th – Pace
- Sophomore shortstop
Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) led off the fourth with a single to short, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
- Senior first baseman
Garrett De Lotto (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) then reached on an error by the pitcher, putting runners on the corners without an out.
- Junior left fielder
Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) then singled to left, plating Salmonese to put the Setters ahead, 1-0.
Bottom 6th – Pace
- Gulino walked with one away, and then senior designated hitter
Domenick Luongo (Darien, CT/Cardinal Spellman) singled to right, putting runners on the corners for Pace.
- Senior right fielder
Cory Capaldi (Telford, PA/Souderton) then walked to load the bases, and junior third baseman
Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) dropped a single into right to bring in Gulino and make it a 2-0 ballgame.
- Sophomore second baseman
Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring freshman
Andrew Fitzgerald (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand High School) from third to put Pace ahead by three.
GAME 1 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Anthony Rocco (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) (4-0)
Loss: Michael Nocera (0-3)
Save:
Anthony Criscione (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) (1)
Pitching Notes
- Senior starter
Anthony Rocco (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) went five scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just four hits to improve to 4-0.
- Junior reliever
Anthony Criscione (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) came on in the seventh, and tossed the final 2.1 innings. He allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out four to pick up his first save.
GAME 1 SETTER STATS
- Gulino batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Luongo went 2-for-3.
- Kurdewan batted 1-for-4 with an RBI.
- Senior center fielder
John Kukura (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) hit 1-for-4 with a double.
GAME 1 WARRIOR LEADERS
- Catcher Ricky Smith and shortstop Mike Forgione each went 2-for-4.
GAME 2: PACE 6, MERRIMACK 5
SCORING PLAYS
Top 2nd – Merrimack
- Back-to-back hit-by-pitches put the first two runners on for the Warriors.
- Second baseman Paul Buckley then singled into right to load the bases.
- After a pop-up to second, Forgione singled to right, to bring in the first run of the game.
- Center fielder Tyler Lyne then grounded out to short, allowing another run to score.
- Third baseman Joey Porricelli then singled to left to give Merrimack a 3-0 lead.
Top 3rd – Merrimack
- A wild pitch brought designated hitter Matthew Ronai home to score and make it a 4-0 game.
Bottom 3rd – Pace
- Kukura walked with two outs in the third, and then Salmonese reached on an error to get two on with two away.
- Gulino then singled into left, bringing Kukura around to score to get Pace back within three.
Top 4th – Merrimack
- With a runner on second, Lyne hit a double to left-center, scoring Forgione to make it 5-1 in favor of the Warriors.
Bottom 6th – Pace
- Gulino singled off the third-base bag to lead off the sixth.
- Capaldi then drew a walk, and De Lotto reached on a fielder's choice on which all runners were safe, loading the bases without an out.
- Senior designated hitter
James Wynne (North Salem, NY/North Salem) then singled to right, bringing in Gulino to make it 5-2.
- Freshman third baseman
Brian Bohlander (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) then grounded into a double play, but Capaldi was able to score, bringing Pace back within two.
- Luongo then came up to pinch hit, and came through with a single up the middle, bringing in De Lotto to make it a one-run game.
- Kukura then tied the game after singling on a slow dribbler to third, plating Luongo to make it 5-5 heading to the seventh.
Bottom 7th – Pace
- Gulino reached on a dropped line drive to lead off the inning, leaving him on second base.
- Capaldi then grounded out to second, moving Gulino over to third.
- Wynne then ripped a single through the right side, scoring Gulino to put Pace ahead, 6-5.
GAME 2 PITCHING DECISIONS
Win:
Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) (1-1)
Loss: Perry Kulaga (1-2)
Pitching Notes
- Junior reliever
Michael Amato (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East/Suffolk CC) took over in the sixth, throwing the final four frames without allowing a run to pick up his first win of the year.
GAME 2 SETTER STATS
- Wynne hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the game-winning single in the seventh.
- Kukura batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
- Gulino went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Luongo went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run after coming in to pinch hit in the sixth.
GAME 2 WARRIOR LEADERS
- Porricelli finished 3-for-4 with an RBI.
- Lyne knocked in two runs after going 1-for-5 with a double.
- Second baseman Paul Buckley hit 3-for-4 with a run scored.
- Forgione went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
TEAM RECORDS
Pace: 18-9 (8-2 NE10)
Merrimack: 12-12-1 (6-2-1 NE10)
UP NEXT:
- The Setters stay at home to take on Dominican College in a non-conference matchup at Peter X. Finnerty Field on Tuesday, April 11. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
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