KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A four-run third inning by the Warriors proved to be the difference maker as the Pace University baseball team was defeated by Wayne State University on Wednesday afternoon, 9-5. With the loss, the Setters fall to 5-2-1 on the season.

Inside the Numbers
*The Setters' offense collected five runs on seven hits. Matt Bass (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led the Blue and Gold at the dish with a 3-for-4 day, collecting an RBI and scoring a run.

*Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning to put Pace ahead in the early goings.

*Catcher Michael Barbato (Sparkill, NY/Tappan Zee) had a two-RBI day, matching Gulino for the day's team lead.

*Joe Pizzingrillo (Garden City, NY/Chaminade) and Alex Busby (Landing, NJ/Roxbury / County College of Morris) tossed four innings of relief on the mound, allowing just one run. The duo combined for three strikeouts while allowing five hits over the final four innings of the game.

How it Happened
After the top-two of the order were retired to open up the game, the Setters were able to get on the scoreboard with a single off the bat of Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) and Gulino's homer. The 2-0 lead was short lived, as Wayne State responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to send the game to the second inning tied 2-2.

Rebounding nicely in the second by stranding two Warriors on base, Pace starter Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) found trouble in the third. A leadoff home run by Justin Kelly gave the Warriors their first lead of the game. Wayne State would build upon the advantage with a two-out rally, drawing a walk and collecting three straight hits to score three more runs and go ahead 6-2 through three innings.

The Warriors would tack on two more runs in the next inning off a Ryan Mergener double.

Pace pulled in closer in the top of the sixth, as Barbato delivered a two-out single to score Salmonese and Bass to cut the Wayne State lead down to 8-4.

Four runs would be as close as Pace would get however, as the Warriors added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Bass collected his third RBI of the season in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-5, but the Setters would only manage one baserunner over the final two innings as Wayne State closed out the game.

Up Next
The Setters wrap up their Florida road trip with a pair of games against Northwood University over the next two days. Pace will meet the Timberwolves for their first contest tomorrow at 11 a.m.