SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Fueled by an offense that generated 13 hits and four walks, the Pace University baseball team began a three-game series against American International College on Friday afternoon with a 9-3 triumph. The win improves the Blue and Gold to 13-10-1 overall this season, and 5-2 inside the NE10's Southwest Division.
 
Senior Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) was on the right side of Pace's offensive success, earning the win on the mound. The right-hander allowed just three runs in six innings, while striking out four.
 
Classmate Jake Amoroso (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) put the finishing touches on the bump, posting a three-inning save. The senior allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings, and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

Offensively, Michael Barbato (Sparkill, NY/Tappan Zee) put together his best game of the season. The junior catcher put together a 4-for-5 effort with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) and Matt Bass (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) also registered multiple hits on the day, combining to go 5-for-9 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
 
The Blue and Gold had to answer a 1-0 deficit after AIC recorded a run in the first inning. Andrew Ciacciarelli tallied the RBI ground out for the home team.
 
The Setters tied the game in the second, and then scored three more in the third. Bass put Pace on the board with an RBI single to left while Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney), Barbato, and Kurdewan knocked in runs as well. Gulino drilled his first triple of the season to post his team-leading 24^th RBI of the season.

Following another run from AIC in the third, the Setters took control with a two-out rally in the seventh.  Following two ground outs, Pace strung together four hits and a hit-by-pitch to put four more runs on the board. Matt Almonte (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle), Kurdewan, and Bass all picked up RBIs in the frame as the Blue and Gold extended their lead to 8-2.

AIC and Pace each scored one more time the rest of the way. Barbato capped off his stellar outing for the Setters with an RBI single in the eighth.  
 
Up Next
The Setters and Yellow Jackets continue their weekend series tomorrow afternoon with a noon doubleheader at Bedard Field.