KIMMISSEE, Fla. – A two-run eighth inning for Northwood University ended up being the difference maker in a 3-2 defeat for the Pace University baseball team on Thursday afternoon. The loss moves the Setters to 5-3-1 on the season.

Inside the Numbers
*In a well-pitched game all-around, junior Dan Wirchansky (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland/RCC) served as the hard-luck loser on Thursday. The left-hander allowed just two earned runs in eight innings of work, striking out six. Wirchansky is now 2-1 on the season with 36 K's and a 1.08 ERA.

*Senior Jake Amoroso (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Blue and Gold after entering the game with a runner on first.

*Offensively, the Setters had their chances. Pace racked up 10 hits and five walks, while leaving 15 runners on base. The Blue and Gold left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings.

*Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) led Pace at the dish, notching two hits and an RBI. Felix Camacho (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's High School for Boys / Westchester Community College) also added an RBI while Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) reached base three times on a hit and two walks. Piccolino is now batting a team-best .400 while Gulino has tallied a squad-high 14 RBIs.  

How it Happened
Camacho singled in the game's first tally as Pace took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Crowley (Cornwall on Hudson, NY/Iona Prep/Monmouth) scored on the base hit after leading off the game with a hit by pitch and moving over to second on a Piccolino walk.

The Timberwolves answered back with a run in the second to tie the game at 1-1 off a sac fly.

Following three scoreless frames, the Setters once again took the lead on an RBI knock from Gulino. Piccolino crossed home plate after once again walking—this time with two outs.

The eighth inning proved to be troublesome for Pace as Northwood began the frame with a single, a hit-by-pitch and a double—which tied the game at 2-2. A sacrifice fly followed to give the Timberwolves a 3-2 edge.

Down to their final six outs, Pace went 1-2-3 in the eighth before leaving a man on in the ninth. A Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) fly-ball to the warning track of dead-center field served as the final out of the contest.

Up Next
It will be a rematch against Northwood tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Setters' final game in Florida.