SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Pace University baseball team defeated Bentley University to advance to the NE10 Conference Championship Semifinals, defeating the Falcons 7-0 Thursday, May 11.

Senior pitcher Patrick Gleason (Valhalla, N.Y./Valhalla) was the story of the day. In the biggest game of the season, Gleason threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout to lead the Setters (31-18, 9-11 NE10) to victory as Pace continues its quest for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Pace had a chance to get on the board in the first, getting two runners on with two out, but couldn't cash in. Bentley had its best scoring chance of the day in the third, getting a single and fielder's choice to put a runner on second. A wild pitch moved him to third with one out, but Gleason came back with back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Falcons off the board.

The Setters finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore shortstop Mason Baronian (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Hunter Goldstein (Jericho, N.Y./Jericho) to put Pace on top 1-0.

In the fifth, the Setters added two more to go up by three. After a leadoff double by sophomore outfielder Josh Miller (Clifton, N.J./Clifton), grad student outfielder Mitchell McCabe (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford/ Bridgton Academy) doubled down the right field line, scoring Miller for the second run of the day. McCabe then came around to score on an RBI single by grad student outfielder Luke Jacobi (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens), putting Pace ahead by three heading to the sixth.

Gleason worked around a walk and hit batter in the sixth, getting a pair of groundouts to again end the inning unscathed.

The Setters blew the game open in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four more runs to put the game out of reach. With two out and nobody on, a walk and single got Pace started. Miller then drove an RBI double to left to score one and extend the lead to four. Junior third baseman Anthony Labita (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) then stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run shot to right field, clearing the bases and putting the Setters up 7-0.

Gleason came back out for the ninth and put on the finishing touches, getting the final three outs to give Pace a 7-0 victory as they advance to the NE10 Semifinals for the first time since 2017.

Up Next

Pace will now face Le Moyne College Friday, May 12, with the winner advancing to the NE10 Championship. Game time is TBD.