PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team fell to No. 22 ranked University of New Haven in a doubleheader Sunday, April 2. The Chargers won game one 14-1, then prevailed 4-3 in game two.
 
Game One: New Haven 14, Pace 1
The Chargers (18-5, 6-2 NE10) took control early, getting two runs in the second and three more in the third. Robert Taylor homered in both innings, connecting on a solo shot in the second inning followed by a three-run blast in the third.
 
Andrew Bianco had a multi-home run game as well, hitting a pair of three-run shots in the fifth and seventh. Two more home runs in the seventh provided the rest of New Haven's runs, as Pace (17-5, 1-3 NE10) was unable to do much offensively in game one.
 
Junior third baseman Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) picked up an RBI in the seventh, but that was the only run the Setters picked up in the early game. Senior pitcher Marco Siracusa (Kinnelon, N.J./Bergen Catholic) recorded 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Pace.
 
Game Two: New Haven 4, Pace 3
It was a pitcher's duel to start out game two of the doubleheader, as the two starters combined for just one hit allowed until the bottom of the third. In that half inning, Pace got on the board starting with a leadoff walk by sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho). A sacrifice bunt and wild pitch moved him to third, and a two-out single from senior outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester) brought in the first run of the day as the Setters took the lead.
 
The Chargers came right back, however, putting up two runs in the top of the fourth. A single and double put two runners on with one out, and an RBI groundout by Josh Lester tied the game at one. New Haven then drew three consecutive walks, forcing in another run to go ahead 2-1.
 
Pace got the first two runners on base in the fourth, but couldn't get them any further, leaving both men stranded on base. The visitors took advantage, putting up two more runs in the fifth. With multiple runners on, a pair of wild pitches allowed the runs to come in, giving the Chargers a 4-1 lead.
 
The Setters slowly fought their way back into the game, starting in the last of the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) led off the inning with a triple and came in to score on an RBI groundout by freshman second baseman Benjamin Tullo (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham Senior).
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, Pace got one more back in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two out, an error brought in a run for the home team to cut the deficit to one run. However, the Setters left them loaded and couldn't capitalize to take the lead.
 
Pace again had an opportunity in the seventh, getting runners on second and third with one out. But New Haven was able to hold them off the board once again, keeping it a 4-3 game.
 
Drew Silverman, on in relief for the Chargers, didn't allow a baserunner over the final two innings, setting the home team down as New Haven hung on for a 4-3 win.
 
Rinaldi and Tullo both had one RBI in game two, while grad student pitcher Michael Roll (Ramsey, N.J./Bergen Catholic High School) went four innings in scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three.
 
Up Next
The Setters start a weekend series with NE10 opponent Adelphi University Friday, April 7. The teams play in a doubleheader starting at noon.