WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Pace University baseball team won its seventh straight game Monday afternoon, defeating Bentley University 10-9 in a back-and-forth affair.

The Setters (10-1) started out hot offensively, putting up six runs in the first two innings. After getting a run across following a Bentley (5-4) error in the first, Pace put up five more to get out to a 6-0 lead. Sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) got things started in the second with a double and came in to score on an RBI groundout by freshman second baseman Benjamin Tullo (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham Senior).

With runners on second and third with one out, senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester) brought them in with a two-run single. Back-to-back RBI singles by grad student outfielders Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) and Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy) put two more runs on the board, giving the Blue and Gold a six-run advantage after two.

The Falcons got one back in each of the next two innings, getting an RBI single from Tommy Fisher in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fourth from Tim Zupkus.

An RBI single by junior third baseman Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) made it 7-2 in the top of the fifth, but Bentley came storming back in the bottom of the inning, putting up five runs to tie the game. After drawing two walks, a pair of RBI singles by Zupkus and Brian Lindsay cut the lead to three.

An error and wild pitch brought in two more runs, then George Bolton connected on an RBI single of his own to tie the game.

The Setters responded however, taking the lead right back in the sixth. Two walks started the inning, and a pair of wild pitches brought in the first run. Rinaldi then tripled to center to score another, then Jacobi brought him in with a sac fly to give the Setters a 10-7 lead.

Bentley pulled within a run in the bottom of the eighth, starting with a home run by Stan DeMartinis. The Falcons loaded the bases with one out, and a walk forced one in to bring it to a 10-9 score. Junior Dan Brown (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn) then came on in relief, securing two huge outs to maintain the lead.

Pace got a runner to third with one out in the ninth in an attempt to add to the lead, but were unable to push the run across, as the game went to the bottom of the final inning with the Setters still holding a one-run advantage.

The Falcons loaded the bases with two out in the ninth, but Pace was able to hang on, as Brown closed things out with a strikeout to preserve the 10-9 victory.

Rinaldi had two hits and three RBI on the day while scoring two runs, and McCabe had a pair of hits with one run driven in. Jacobi drove in two more, and Labita had a pair of hits and one RBI.

Freshman Brendan McCann (Plainview, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) picked up the win, going 2.2 innings in scoreless relief, allowing two hits and striking out three. Brown picked up the save, going the final 1.2 innings while allowing no hits and recording four strikeouts.

Up Next
Pace finishes out the spring break trip Wednesday, March 15, when they take on St. Cloud State University at 7 p.m.