PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team erupted for a season-best 12 runs in a shutout of Southern Connecticut State University on Friday afternoon at Finnerty Field. The win moves the Setters to 9-6-1 overall this season, and 2-0 against teams in the NE10 Southwest Division.

Historic Hank Part II
*Two days after tying the great Fred Calaicone for the most wins in program history, Pace Baseball Head Coach Hank Manning eclipsed that mark on Friday and now stands alone atop Pace's all-time victory list at 398.

*Now in his 18^th season leading his alma mater, Manning ('90) has put together a historic run inside the Setters' dugout. Pace has especially been impressive in recent years, tallying at least 29 wins in four of the last six seasons.

Inside the Numbers
*Dan Wirchansky (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland/RCC) continued his dominant season on the mound with another eight scoreless innings to earn his fourth win of the year. The junior lefty, who struck out four and walked zero, lowered his ERA to just 0.64 in 42.0 innings this season. Wirchansky has allowed just one walk in 2018, which ranks first in the nation.

*Pace's offense matched Wirchansky's stellar effort, piling up 12 runs on 15 hits. Five different Setters registered multiple knocks, including Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick), who went 4-for-5.

*Salmonese also scored a team-best three runs, while Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) and Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) each tallied three RBIs. Gulino has been a run-producing machine this season, leading Pace with 22 RBIs in 57 at-bats.

*Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) and Matt Almonte (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) also put forth strong outings at the dish, combining to go 4-for-8 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

How it Happened
After a pair of scoreless innings to begin the contest, Pace tallied a four-spot in the third. A Piccolino sac fly began the Setters' scoring, while Gulino and Almonte followed with RBI hits of their own.

The Blue and Gold added three more in the fifth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Michael Barbato (Sparkill, NY/Tappan Zee) took advantage of the opportunity, hammering a single to left field to plate two. Gulino then crossed the plate on a wild pitch after reaching on a hit-by-pitch.

Already securing more than enough offense for their ace, the Setters added another run in the sixth and four more in the seventh.

Kurdewan provided a nice exclamation point for Pace in the seventh, launching a three-run home run over the left-field wall. Almonte and Brian Bohlander (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) each trotted home on Kurdewan's second-career long ball. The three-run blast supplied the home squad with an 11-0 lead.

Following a Wirchansky exit in the eighth, sophomore Joe Pizzingrillo (Garden City, NY/Chaminade) tossed a scoreless final frame for Pace.

Up Next
The Setters and SCSU will battle once again tomorrow at Finnerty Field, beginning a doubleheader at noon. There will be a pregame ceremony to honor Coach Manning's climb to the top of Pace's all-time wins list.