SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With weather pushing back the final two games of the weekend series, the Pace University baseball team split a Monday doubleheader against No. 10 Le Moyne. With the 10-5 win and 7-1 loss, the Setters move to 16-17-1 on the year with an 8-9 mark against the Southwest Division.
Inside the Numbers
*Matt Almonte (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) came up big at the plate with five RBIs in Monday's contests. The freshman had a pair of 2-for-4 games, hitting a double and driving in four in the opener. Almonte also drove in Pace's lone run in the finale.
*Michael Gulino (Meriden, CT/Maloney) continued his impressive season at the plate, going 5-for-9 across the two games. The senior hit three doubles while scoring two runs and driving in two more.
*Freshman Harrison Treble (Oyster Bay, NY/Oyster Bay/St. Bonaventure) had two RBIs in Game One.
*In addition to Gulino, Michael Salmonese (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) and Riley Iafrate (Harrington Park, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) each scored a pair of runs in the opener.
*Lorenzo Russo (East Northport, NY/Commack) picked up his first win of the season in the opener with two scoreless innings. The sophomore entered in the eighth inning to keep the game tied while closing out the game in the ninth, allowing one hit across the two frames.
Game One Recap: Pace 10, Le Moyne 5
The Setters offense wasted little time in Monday's opener, getting two runs on the board in the first. Gulino drove home Crowley, who reached on a lead-off walk, with a two out double. A single from Almonte in the next at-bat would bring home Gulino, but the freshman was tagged out to end the inning before Pace would do any further damage.
Working with a two-run lead, it was smooth sailing for Kyle Cashman (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville) through the first three innings. The senior surrendered no hits through his first three frames of work, allowing just a walk and a hit by pitch. The walks, however, would prove to be an issue in the fourth. The Dolphins drew back-to-back free passes to begin the inning, and while Cashman was able to get a fly out, another walk loaded the bases with one out.
Le Moyne would get on the board with an RBI single by Nicholas Jacques. The Dolphins would tack on two more after Jake Amoroso (Stratford, CT/St. Joseph) came in to relieve Cashman, taking a 3-2 lead through four. Le Moyne would add another run in the sixth to pull ahead 4-2.
Held in check for six innings after their rally in the first, the Setter bats came to life in the eighth. Back-to-back singles from Salmonese and Gulino got the inning started, as Almonte reach on a fielder's choice to score Salmonese. A two-out single from Treble brought home Almonte, while Iafrate scored on a wild pitch to reclaim the lead for Pace, 5-4.
An RBI double by Le Moyne's Nick Spinella tied the game at 5-5 heading into the ninth. The Setters exploded for five runs on three hits and a Dolphin error to put the game away. Gulino and Almonte hit consecutive RBI doubles to score Pace's first three runs of the inning, while a sac fly by Treble extended the Setter lead to 9-5. The Setters would add their final insurance run on a Dolphin throwing error that allowed Matthew Kurdewan (Neptune, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) to score from third.
With a comfortable lead to work with, Russo closed out the game with his second inning on the mound, striking out two in the ninth. The sophomore picked up his first win of the season as the Setters forced a rubber match in Game Two.
Game Two Recap: Le Moyne 7, Pace 1
The Setter bats were held in check by Ryan Murphy in Game Two, who allowed one run over eight innings on the mound as Le Moyne took the series finale.
The Dolphins earned a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings. The Setters were able to cut the lead in half in the fourth with an RBI single from Almonte to score Treble.
One run would be as close as Pace would pull in the finale, as the Dolphins added a run in the seventh. Le Moyne would tack on four unearned runs in the eighth inning to pull ahead 7-1. The Setters would get just two runners past second base over the final five innings as Le Moyne closed out the series with the 7-1 final.
Up Next
Pace returns home tomorrow to begin the final home stand of the season. The Setters will host the University of New Haven at Finnerty Field at 3:30 p.m.
