PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team suffered a pair of defeats Friday afternoon, falling to Le Moyne College in a pair of NE10 matchups. The Setters dropped game one 7-3, then fell 8-2 in the late game.
Game One: Le Moyne 7, Pace 3
It was a pitcher's duel early, as senior Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) and Max Parker, both in the top five in the NE10 in ERA, were strong to start the day.
Sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) picked up the first hit of the day in the bottom of the second, tripling to right center to give Pace (24-10, 4-6 NE10) an opportunity to get the first run. But the next two batters were retired, sending the game to the third still scoreless.
The Dolphins (21-5, 6-4 NE10) got back-to-back singles to start the third, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Dewey Roden then brought in the first run with an RBI single to give Le Moyne a 1-0 lead.
A walk loaded the bases, followed a double brought in another run, but the runner on second was thrown out at the plate attempting to score, limiting the Dolphins to one run on the play. However, a two-run single with two out extended the lead to 4-0 for Le Moyne.
The Setters responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, all coming with two out. After a pair of two-out singles, grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) hit a ground rule double to left center, picking up career RBI No. 100 and getting Pace on the board. Sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) then drove in a pair with a two-run double to left, pulling Pace within a run at 4-3.
The home team got a runner to third in the bottom of the fourth but left him stranded as Le Moyne held on to its one-run lead. The Dolphins added to their lead in the fifth, getting back-to-back one out singles, followed by a walk to load the bases. Adam Sullivan then came to the plate and doubled down the left field line, scoring two runs to extend Le Moyne's lead to 6-3. An RBI single by Benji Ries gave the Dolphins another run, putting the visitors ahead by four.
Pace held Le Moyne off the board in the sixth but couldn't capitalize in the home half. The Setters got just two hits over the next two innings, sending the game to the ninth still at a 7-3 score. Pace got the leadoff runner on the start the ninth, but Parker set down the next three batters to finish it off and pick up his second complete game of the year.
Game Two: Le Moyne 8, Pace 2
Sophomore pitcher Vincent Civitella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) got the ball in game two for the Setters and started his day with a 1-2-3 inning. He came back in the second by striking out the side, picking up where he left off after his four-hit shutout last week.
Sam DiGeorge was impressive early as well, allowing just one hit over the first two innings as the teams played scoreless into the third inning.
Le Moyne broke through in the top of the third, getting an RBI single from Lucas Egenhauser to take the lead. A single and error brought in another run, followed by a wild pitch and RBI single to give the Dolphins a 4-0 lead.
With one out and a runner on first, a ball hit deep to centerfield looked like it would add another run, but sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) made a diving catch in center, throwing back to first base to double off the runner.
Le Moyne added another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, extending its lead to five runs. Pace threatened in the bottom of the inning, getting runners to first and third with one out. A wild pitch brought in the first run of the day for the home team, making it a 5-1 game. A single by sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) followed by a throwing error brought in another run, pulling Pace within three runs.
A pair of hits and a walk loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but grad student pitcher Nelson Arroyo (Washingtonville, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic) recovered with back-to-back strikeouts to strand three runners and keep it a 5-2 game.
Arroyo came back with a 1-2-3 sixth, but the Setters went down in order as well, sending the game to the final inning with Pace still trailing by three.
Le Moyne added three more runs in the seventh, getting an RBI double by Wyatt Patchett and two-run triple from Adam Sullivan.
Pace couldn't rally in the home half of the inning, falling by an 8-2 final.
Up Next
Pace and Le Moyne are back at it tomorrow, playing another doubleheader at Peter X. Finnerty Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
