PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team got its 2023 season started Sunday in a home doubleheader against Saint Michael's College. The Setters picked up a 5-4, walk-off win in 11 innings in game one, then won game two by a 2-1 score.

Game One – Pace 5, Saint Michael's 4 (11 innings)

After finding himself in a bit of trouble in the top of the first, senior pitcher Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. But with the bases loaded and two out, a slow grounder up the third base line stayed fair, bringing home the first run of the game as the Purple Knights took the early lead.

In the bottom of the first, senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester) went deep in Pace's (2-0, 2-0 NE10) first at-bat of the season, tying the game at one with a home run over the centerfield fence.

Saint Michael's (0-2, 0-2 NE10) struck again in the top of the second. A two-run single with two out by Ulysses Luciano plated two more, and a Pace error allowed him to circle the bases to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

A one-out double by junior shortstop Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) had the Setters in business in the fourth, and junior outfielder Luke Rivera brought him in with an RBI single to make it a 4-2 game. Then with runners on the corners, junior catcher Cole Resetar (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness) blasted a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at four.

Pace looked to take the lead in the fifth, but a line drive off the bat of grad student outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy) that looked labeled for an RBI hit was snagged by Purple Knight shortstop Terence Moynihan, who stepped on second base for a double play to end the scoring threat.

Saint Michael's loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, and with two outs, a grounder down the right field line that look like it would go for extra bases was stopped by grad student Nate Carminucci (Somers, N.Y./North Salem High School), who took it to the bag to end the inning and save multiple runs.

Pace again put multiple runners on in the seventh but was unable to push across the go-ahead run as the teams went to the eighth still tied at four.

With neither team able to break through in the final inning, the game went to extras. Leading off the bottom of the 11^th, Rinaldi launched one to right field that went off the wall, just missing a walk-off homer. Then with the bases loaded, McCabe ripped a walk-off single through the left side as Pace came from behind for a 5-4 victory in game one.

Rinaldi had two hits and the home run, while Rivera and Resetar had two hits each, combining for three RBI. Grad student Michael Roll (Ramsey, N.J./Bergen Catholic High School) got the win on the mound, pitching the last three innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Game Two – Pace 2, Saint Michael's 1

Sophomore Vincent Civitella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) got the start on the mound for the Setters in game two and was sharp throughout, allowing no hits and just one baserunner through five innings pitched, retiring 15 of 16 batter faced.

Pace took the lead in the bottom of the second, as Labita came through with an RBI single to left to put the home team ahead 1-0. With Civitella leading the way for the Setters and keeping the Saint Michael's batters in check, Pace was able to add to its lead in the bottom of the third.

Sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) hammered a solo shot over the left field fence to extend it to a 2-0 score. Both pitching staffs then settled in, as Pace was able to get baserunners on in the following three innings but couldn't extend their lead.

Junior Vincent Vartolone (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) came on in relief and had a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth but ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh. The first two runners reached base, then advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. An RBI groundout got the Purple Knights within a run and got the tying run to third base with two outs, but Vartolone got a foul out to close things out and preserve the 2-1 victory.

Civitella got the win on the mound for Pace, while Vartolone picked up the save. Baronian had two hits including the home run, while Carminucci and sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) each had two hits and one double.

Up Next
Pace will host St. Thomas Aquinas College Wednesday, March 1 at 3 p.m.