EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Pace University baseball team picked up the win Thursday afternoon, defeating No. 11 East Stroudsburg University 11-4 in a road matchup with the Warriors.

The Setters (15-2) offense was consistent early, scoring runs in four of the first five innings. Neither team scored in the first, but grad student outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy) got Pace on the board in the top of the second. Leading off the inning, McCabe blasted his team-leading third home run of the year over the left field fence, putting the visitors ahead 1-0.

Freshman pitcher Brendan McCann (Plainview, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) got into some trouble in the bottom of the inning, as a hit and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs. But he was able to work out of it, stranding three runners and keeping Pace ahead by one.

The first two runners reached base in the third for the Setters, and McCabe brought them both in with a two-run single to make it a three-run lead for Pace. McCabe was thrown out at second trying to stretch it to a double, followed by a groundout to end the inning.

The Warriors (18-4) once again got runners on in the home half, but a double play got McCann out of danger once again. After the Setters once again got the first two runners on to start the fourth, a sacrifice bunt and walk left the bases full with one out. Freshman second baseman Benjamin Tullo (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham Senior) then walked as well, forcing in a run. But East Stroudsburg was able to turn a double play, escaping the inning allowing just one.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, the Setters continued to tack on in the fifth. With two out and a runner on first, grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) tripled to right centerfield, scoring sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) to make it a 5-0 game.

The Warriors were able to get their first runs across in the fifth, scoring three to get right back in the game. A walk and single started the inning, followed by the next two batters being retired. After a hit by pitch to load the bases, Parker Frey cleared them with one swing, tripling to cut Pace's lead to 5-3 heading to the sixth.

The Setters had an opportunity to get some of those runs back in the top of the sixth, as the visitors loaded the bases with one out. But Pace couldn't capitalize, as East Stroudsburg got out of the inning unscathed to keep it a two-run game.

After a leadoff triple to start the inning, a sacrifice fly brought in a run with one out, making it a 5-4 game after six. Pace once again got multiple runners on in the seventh, but a line drive was caught, and the Warriors were able to double off one of the runners, ending the inning. Junior Dan Brown (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn), who came on in relief in the sixth, didn't allow a hit in the last of the seventh, putting Pace at bat in the eighth still holding the lead.

Neither team got on the board in the eighth, but the Setters got a single and walk to start the ninth, looking to add to their lead. A sacrifice bunt and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, and junior third baseman Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) was hit by a pitch forcing one run in. Freshman infielder Robbie Caffrey (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) then drew a walk to put Pace ahead by three, and sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) brought in two more with a single to make it a 9-4 game.

The Setters didn't stop there, continuing to add on runs. With still only one out, senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester) doubled to left field, scoring Caffrey and Miller to extend the lead to 11-4, bringing in the final runs on a huge offensive day for Pace.

Pace then closed it out as the Warriors went down in order in the ninth, picking up an impressive 11-4 victory over the No. 11 ranked team in the country.

On the day, both McCabe and Miller had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Rinaldi had two hits and drove in a pair, and Jacobi, Labita and Caffrey all had one run batted in.

Up Next
The Setters continue their road trip Satuday, March 25, kicking off NE10 play with a doubleheader at the College of Saint Rose. Game one is scheduled to start at noon.