WEST HAVEN, Conn. – A slow start offensively proved to be the difference for the Pace University baseball team in a 6-4 defeat at No. 16 New Haven on Wednesday afternoon. The loss moves the Setters to 14-12-1 overall this season, and 6-4 in Divisional action.

Pace had eight different players record hits on Wednesday, led by a pair of knocks from both Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) and Ryan Crowley (Cornwall on Hudson, NY/Iona Prep/Monmouth).  Kurdewan and Crowley also notched runs scored on the day.

Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick), Greg Tsouprakos (West Islip, NY/West Islip), Felix Camacho (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond's High School for Boys / Westchester Community College), and Alex Pia (Guilford, CT/Xavier) recorded Pace's four RBIs--three of which came in the ninth inning.

The Blue and Gold used five pitchers in the contest, with starter Lorenzo Russo (East Northport, NY/Commack) being the dealt the loss. Senior Jake Amoroso (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) put together the best outing, allowing just one hit and one run in two innings of work.

While Pace managed just three hits, and no runs, over the first six innings, the Chargers put five on the board. New Haven crossed a runner in the second, another in the fourth, and three in the fifth.

Up 2-0 in the fifth, a two-RBI single from Andrew Garcia doubled the lead for New Haven while a passed ball created a 5-0 edge.

After scoring their first run of the game in the seventh off a Camacho RBI double, the Blue and Gold made things interesting in the ninth.

Trailing 6-1 with one on and one out, Pace rattled off three-straight hits, capped off by an RBI single from Pia to put their second run on the board.

An RBI's fielder's choice from Salmonese cut the lead further to 6-3, but also gave the Chargers two outs in the inning.

Down to their final out, Tsouprakos knocked an RBI single to slim the edge to 6-4 before Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) grounded out with runners on the corners to end the game.

Up Next
The Setters will host the College of Saint Rose in a three-game series this weekend at Finnerty Field. Pace and the Golden Knights will play a doubleheader on Saturday before a single contest on Sunday, which will also mark the Setters' Senior Day.