PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – In a season-opening doubleheader that will be remembered for a long time, the Pace University baseball team nabbed a pair of wins from Dominican College on Sunday afternoon at Finnerty Field. The sweep, however, was just part of the story as junior Dan Wirchansky (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland/RCC) began the Setters' new year by throwing a nine-inning perfect game.

Dominant Danny
Wirchansky not only retired all 27 batters he faced, but was dominant in doing so. At one point, he had struck out seven straight Chargers en route to finishing the day with a career-high 16 strikeouts. He struck out the side in both third and fourth innings as Pace clung to a 2-0 lead. His other 11 outs consisted of seven pop/fly-outs and four ground outs.

Game One Recap - Pace 8, Dominican 0
In addition to the stellar defense and pitching, the Setters' offense racked up 15 hits in a nice effort of their own. Pace had five players tally at least two hits, including a pair of 3-for-4 efforts from Felix Camacho (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's High School for Boys / Westchester Community College) and Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick). Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) and Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) each knocked in a pair to lead six different run-producers.

Ryan Crowley (Cornwall on Hudson, NY/Iona Prep/Monmouth) put Pace on the board with an RBI double in the second inning, scoring freshman Matt Bass (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville). Gulino followed with a sac fly in the third to put Pace up 2-0.

The Blue and Gold blew the game open in the seventh, fueled by RBI knocks from Gulino, Camacho, Kurdewan, and Bass. Kurdewan's two-out triple to left-center put Pace up 6-0 while Bass capped off the frame with an RBI single up the middle.

Game Two Recap (Seven Innings) - Pace 4, Dominican 2
The Setters' terrific momentum from Game One helped them complete the afternoon sweep. Pace got off to a quick lead in the first off an RBI fielder's choice from Gulino. Paul Piccolino (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) scored on the play after leading off with a triple to right-center.

Piccolino struck again in the third inning, hammering the Blue and Gold's first home run of the season. Piccolino's second-career long ball provided a 3-1 lead.

After Dominican cut the edge to just one in the fourth, the Setters added one more insurance run off some smart base running from Michael Barbato (Sparkill, NY/Tappan Zee). Barbato sprinted home from second base off an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt from Bass.

Kevin Wiltse (East Setauket, NY/Ward Mellville/University of Hartford) earned the win in Game Two, improving his career record to 4-0 as a Setter. Seniors Ryan Aquino (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) and Jake Amoroso (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) also saw action on the mound, combining for 3.1 scoreless innings.

Up Next
Pace takes on NYIT for a mid-week home-and-home. The Setters head to Old Westbury on Tuesday afternoon before hosting the Bears on Wednesday.