PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team improved to 11-2 on the season, picking up a 3-2 victory over Mercy College Friday, March 17 at Peter X. Finnerty Field.

The teams went scoreless in the first two innings, with freshman Robert Gilchrist (New Milford, Conn./North Salem) getting off to a strong start on the mound for the Setters (11-2). But the Mavericks (4-13) got on the board in the top of the third, as Jaden Caballero connected on an RBI double to give Mercy the lead.

Pace came back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning, as senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester) drove in the tying run with an RBI double. A two-out single by grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) put the Setters ahead 2-1 heading to the fourth.

Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners with nobody out for Mercy. A double play brought in the tying run, but cleared the bases for the Setters as they were able to get out of the inning tied at two.

The Mavericks got a runner to third in the top of the fifth, but junior Dan Brown (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn), on in relief of Gilchrist, held Mercy off the board by getting a flyout to end the inning.

After Pace went down 1-2-3 in the fifth, the visitors threatened in the top half of the sixth. A leadoff double got Mercy started, and they put runners on second and third with two out. But Brown was able to get a groundout to get out of the inning with the game still tied.

The Setters had a chance to take the lead in the sixth when sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) singled with one out, and advanced to third on a fielding error by the left fielder. A walk put runners on first and third with two out, but a flyout ended the inning to send the game to the seventh at 2-2.

Mercy couldn't push a run across in the top half, and Pace got a runner to third with two outs in their turn at bat. But a strikeout by Mercy's Scott Scheppy, who went seven innings on the day, kept the Setters at two runs.

The Mavericks drew two walks to start the eighth, and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. But Brown worked his way out of a tough jam, getting a groundout and flyout to send the game to the bottom of the eighth.

A walk and sac bunt put sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) at second with one out, and he moved to third on a wild pitch. A two-out RBI single by junior outfielder Luke Rivara (Lake Worth, Fla./Saint John Paul II Academy) brought in the go-ahead run, giving the Setters a 3-2 lead going to the ninth.

Mercy got a runner on first with one out in the ninth, but Goldstein threw him out trying to steal second. Brown then got the final batter to ground out, preserving a 3-2 non-conference win for Pace.

The Setters had eight different batters record a hit on the day, with Rinaldi, Jacobi and Rivara picking up one RBI each. Brown got the win for Pace, going five scoreless innings in relief.

The Setters and Mavericks are back at it tomorrow, as the two teams play a doubleheader in Dobbs Ferry starting at noon.