PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team dropped two more to Le Moyne College Saturday, April 22. The Setters were defeated 3-1 in the first game, then fell 6-1 in game two.
Game One: Le Moyne 3, Pace 1
The Setters honored their seven seniors and two graduate students prior to the game, as pitcher Christian Aich (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial), pitcher Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla), outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens), outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy), infielder Andrew Oakland (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem HS East), pitcher Brian Primm (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon), outfielder Matthew Rinaldi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Eastchester), pitcher Frankie Roder (Franklin Square, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and pitcher Marco Siracusa (Kinnelon, N.J./Bergen Catholic) were all celebrated before the first pitch.
The Dolphins (23-5, 8-4 NE10) took the early lead, putting up runs in each of the first two innings. Le Moyne got an RBI groundout in the first, followed by a run-scoring single from Benji Ries in the second.
The visitors threatened to break it open in the third, loading the bases with one out. But freshman pitcher Brendan McCann (Plainview, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) got a much-needed ground ball double play to get out of the inning, keeping it a two-run game.
The Setters (24-13, 4-8 NE10) had a chance to get on the board in the home half of the third, getting runners on the corners. But Pace couldn't push a run across as Le Moyne held its lead.
The Dolphins added another run in the fourth, getting an RBI single from Drew Carroll to take a 3-0 lead. The home team finally broke through in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI groundout by junior catcher Cole Resetar (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness) to pull Pace within two.
The Setters had an opportunity to pull within a run in the fifth, getting a two-out double from junior infielder Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge), but left him stranded as the Dolphins took their 3-1 lead into the sixth.
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, Rinaldi picked up a single in the home half and stole second to put himself in scoring position, but the next two runners were retired as Pace again left a runner on base.
The Setters couldn't push the tying runs across in the bottom of the seventh, as Le Moyne held on for a 3-1 victory in game one.
Game Two: Le Moyne 6, Pace 1
Aich got the ball for Pace in game two and didn't allow a hit in the first as the Setters looked to rebound in the later game.
The Setters got runners on in each of the first two innings but couldn't grab the lead, as Aich kept the Dolphins at bay to keep the game scoreless. The senior allowed just one hit through the first four innings, sending the game to the fifth at a 0-0 score.
Le Moyne drew first blood in the sixth, getting a leadoff double followed by an RBI single from Drew Carroll to go ahead 1-0.
Pace finally broke through in the seventh, getting a leadoff single by Baronian and advanced to third with one out after a sac bunt and passed ball. Grad student first baseman Nate Carminucci (Somers, N.Y./North Salem High School) then came through with an RBI single to tie the game.
However, Le Moyne exploded for five runs in the next half inning to take a 6-1 lead. A run-scoring single by Jason Boule got them started, followed by a two-RBI single from Brody Keneston. A bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch brought in the final two runs of the inning, putting the visitors ahead by five.
The Dolphins didn't surrender a hit over the final two innings, taking the victory by a 6-1 final.
Up Next
The Setters are back at it Tuesday, April 25, when they play in their home finale against Mercy College at 3 p.m.
