GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team split of pair of NE10 contests Friday, April 7. The Setters fell 5-4 in game one, then came back to win 4-2 in a 13-inning affair in the late game.
Game One: Adelphi 5, Pace 4
The Panthers (13-19, 5-7 NE10) jumped in front in the bottom of the first. Following a single and a walk to start the inning, an error with one out brought in the first run of the game to put the home team ahead.
Pace (18-6, 2-4 NE10) responded with three runs in the top of the second to take the lead. Grad student outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy) led off the inning with a solo home run, his team-leading fifth of the season, to tie the game at one. The Setters then picked up a pair of two-out hits, and freshman second baseman Benjamin Tullo (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham Senior) brought them both home with a two RBI double to give Pace a 3-1 lead.
The visitors added to their lead in the top of the third, picking up a run to extend their lead to three. After starting the inning with two out and nobody on, a hit by pitch and error put runners on the corners. Grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) then stole second, and McCabe sprinted home following the throw to second to bring the run across.
Adelphi answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, starting with a one-out double. Then with two out, Kyle Olson singled home a run and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Tim Feliz then connected on another RBI hit for the Panthers, cutting Pace's lead to one.
After the Setters went hitless over the next two innings, Adelphi came back to tie it in the bottom of the fifth, as Feliz hit a two-out solo home run to right-center to knot the game at 4-4.
The home team then went back in front in the sixth, starting off the inning with a walk and single to get runners to first and third with nobody out. The go-ahead run came in on a wild pitch, but senior pitcher Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) was able to limit the damage to one run, keeping it a 5-4 game heading to the seventh.
The Panthers had a chance to add to the lead in the home half of the seventh, loading the bases with one out. But grad student pitcher Michael Roll (Ramsey, N.J./Bergen Catholic High School) was able to work out of trouble, recording back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning.
But Pace couldn't get going offensively in the final two innings, as Adelphi's Coleton Reitan came on in relief and didn't allow a baserunner to preserve the 5-4 win for the Panthers.
Game Two: Pace 4, Adelphi 2 (13 innings)
Adelphi took the lead in the bottom of the first, as a two-out RBI single by Olson got the first run of the game on the board. Sophomore pitcher Vincent Civitella (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) ran into some trouble in the second as two runners reached with one out, but he was able to work out of it with a strikeout and foul out to keep it a one run game.
The Setters drew even in the third, as junior third baseman Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to tie the game at one.
Civitella again worked out of a jam in the bottom of the third, as three walks loaded the bases. But he picked up a key third out to leave them loaded and keep the game tied.
Pace had a chance to take the lead in the fourth, as a triple by McCabe and hit by pitch put runners on the corners with one out. However, a strikeout and flyout ended the inning, as the visitors left a pair stranded.
It was a similar story in the fifth, as the Setters put runners on first and second with one out but again couldn't push the go-ahead run across. Adelphi took advantage in the bottom of the inning, as a one-out double from Olson scored a run and put the home team ahead 2-1.
With two on and two out in the top of the sixth, Labita stepped to the plate and drove an RBI single to right field, scoring McCabe and tying the game at 2-2.
Pace got a pair of runners on in the seventh, but couldn't get them home, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still tied. Junior pitcher Dan Brown (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn), who came on in relief in the sixth, worked around a one-out single to keep it tied heading to the eighth.
Neither team was able to get on the board in the inning as the teams played into the ninth still tied at two. Both pitchers were in control in the ninth, with neither allowing a hit as the game went to extra innings.
After the Setters were set aside in the 10th, a double and intentional walk put two runners on with nobody out for the Panthers. A fielder's choice almost scored the winning run, but the Setters were able to throw the runner out at the plate for the second out. Brown then picked up a huge strikeout, sending the game to the 11th.
Pace couldn't get a runner on in the top half of the inning, and Brown worked around a leadoff single and a walk to keep the game going. After a leadoff walk in the 12th, the Panthers were able to turn a double play, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the score still tied.
After the Panthers couldn't get anything going in their turn at bat, the Setters finally broke through in the 13th. Sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) led off the inning with a single, then with one out, grad student first baseman Nate Carminucci (Somers, N.Y./North Salem High School) put Pace on top. Carminucci blasted his first home run of the season over the right-centerfield wall, giving the Setters a 4-2 lead.
Brown then shut the door in the Adelphi's last chance at bat, putting the Panthers down 1-2-3 to give the Setters the 4-2 victory.
In game two, Labita and Carminucci both had a pair of RBI, while Baronian and sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) each recorded two hits. Brown got the win, going 7.2 innings in scoreless relief, allowing just three hits while striking out eight.
Up Next
The Setters and Panthers are back at it tomorrow, Saturday April 8. The two teams play another doubleheader at Adelphi, getting underway at noon.
