PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team dropped a 10-5 decision to Molloy University Tuesday, April 18 at Peter X. Finnerty Field.
Freshman pitcher Robert Gilchrist (New Milford, Conn./North Salem) was in command early, getting through the first two innings on only 16 pitches. Molloy's Robert Lucano was strong in the early going as well, but the Setters (24-9, 4-4 NE10) broke through in the second after getting runners to first and second with one out. A single with two out loaded the bases, and an error brought in the first run of the day as Pace took a 1-0 lead.
Molloy (25-13) had a chance to answer in the third, getting runners on the corners with nobody out. But a grounder back to Gilchrist turned into a double play, as the threw to first for one out, and the runner at third got thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play. Another groundout ended the inning, as Pace escaped the inning still holding a one-run lead.
The Setters added to their lead in the home half of the third, putting up one run. With runners on first and second, sophomore shortstop Mason Baronain lined an RBI single to left, giving Pace a two-run lead. They had a chance to add even more, loading the bases with two out. But Lucano was able to get a flyout to end the inning, stranding three Setters runners.
The Lions got a single and walk to start the fourth, and another single loaded the bases with nobody out. Gilchrist was able to get a ground ball double play, but a run came across as Molloy made it a 2-1 game.
With two out and a runner on first in the bottom of the fourth, grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) pushed the lead back to two, driving an RBI double to right-center to give Pace a 3-1 lead and picking up his 99th career RBI.
The Lions took the lead in the top of the fifth, putting up three runs. Molloy first got a two-out, two-run double by Gavin McAlonie, followed by an RBI single from Aidan Larkin to put the visitors ahead 4-3.
Pace drew a pair of walks to start the home half of the inning, and a single loaded the bases with one out. However, Molloy was able to turn a double play, ending the inning and keeping it a one-run game.
The visitors added to their lead in the sixth, getting an RBI double by Matt Yip to extend the lead to 5-3. Robby Keane then lined a two-run single to center, bringing in two more runs to go up by four. Molloy went on to load the bases with nobody out, and a sacrifice fly brought in the fourth run of the inning to make it 8-3.
The Setters got two runners on in both the sixth and seventh but left them stranded in both innings. Molloy added one in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Garrett Scavelli, and another run came in on an error as the Lions took a 10-3 lead.
Pace got two in the ninth on a fielder's choice RBI by senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester), but couldn't get any closer, falling by a 10-4 final as Molloy took the victory.
