PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Head coach Hank Manning of the Pace University baseball team won his 500th career game as head coach, as the Setters took both games of a home doubleheader against Assumption University. The Setters won game one 3-2, then earned another one-run win with a 1-0 victory in the late game.
Game One: Pace 3, Assumption 2
The Setters (23-7, 6-4 NE10) took the early lead in the first, getting three straight singles to start the day. The last one, an RBI hit by grad student outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy), brought home the first run of the day as sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) came home to give Pace a 1-0 lead.
The home team extended its lead in the second, as grad student first baseman Nate Carminucci (Somers, N.Y./North Salem High School) connected on a one-out RBI ground-rule double. The hit scored sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho), who led off the inning with a single as the Setters went ahead by two.
The Greyhounds (10-24, 4-9 NE10) drew even in the third, putting up a pair of runs. A walk and single put two runners on with two out, followed by an RBI single from Cole Durkan to give Assumption its first run. Jack Barry followed up with a run-scoring single of his own, knotting the score at two.
Pace came right back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a one-out RBI single off the bat of grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) to make it a 3-2 game.
The pitchers then settled in, not allowing a run over the next two innings. After the Greyhounds went down 1-2-3 in the sixth, Pace got a runner on but couldn't capitalize. In the seventh, senior pitcher Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) locked it down, finishing off the complete game to preserve a 3-2 victory for Pace.
In game one, Labita had a pair of hits, while McCabe, Jacobi and Carminucci had one RBI apiece. Gleason went all seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight batters.
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Game Two: Pace 1, Assumption 0
It was a pitcher's duel in game two, as sophomore pitcher Vincent Civitella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) and Shane Cronin were strong throughout. Civitella went the first 2.1 innings without allowing a hit, and Cronin was equally impressive.
The Setters had a chance to get on the board in the first, getting a walk and single with two out to put two runners on, but couldn't cash in as Cronin got a groundout to end the inning.
Pace again had an opportunity in the second, again getting a pair of runners on base. However, a strikeout ended the inning as the home team left two more stranded.
Civitella ran into his first bit of trouble in the fourth, as the first two runners reached base on singles. But the sophomore came back with a pair of strikeouts and flyout, leaving the two runners on base as he kept it a scoreless game.
The Setters got the first run of the game across in the home half of the inning, as a walk and single got the first two runners on. A sac bunt moved them to second and third, and an RBI groundout from senior infielder Andrew Oakland (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem HS East) gave Pace a 1-0 lead after four.
The Greyhounds again got a runner in scoring position in the fifth with one out, but Civitella again shut the door, picking up back-to-back strikeouts to end the scoring threat.
After the Setters were retired, Civitella kept it up in the sixth with a 1-2-3 inning. He came back out for the seventh, working around a walk to finish it off and give Pace a 1-0 win in game two.
Jacobi and sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) each had a pair of hits in game two, and Civitella picked up his fifth win of the year, going seven innings and allowing no runs on four hits while striking out a career-high 12 batters.
Up Next
Pace and Assumption are back at it Sunday, April 16. The two teams play another doubleheader, this one at Assumption, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
