PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – To open the three-game series against The College of Saint Rose, the Pace University baseball team fell short in game one 12-11, and dominated game two, 9-0. The Blue and Gold improve to 24-15 overall, and 14-9 in the Northeast-10.
Game One
In a slug fest that had 23 combined runs, the Setters fell 12-11. In one of the longest games of the season, both sides produced efficiently at the plate as there were 25 hits between both teams.
Saint Rose began the offensive onslaught in the first inning with a James Ward home run to left field to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. In the third, Saint Rose launched another home run to take control 3-0 over Pace.
Down three runs the Setters answered the next half inning bringing a run across to trim the deficit to two runs moving into the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, the Blue and Gold tied the game at three after Matthew Franco and Josh Miller both accounted for a run batted in.
After Saint Rose tallied one run in the top of the fifth, the Setters snatched back the lead in the bottom of the inning. Four runs crossed home plate as Pace took the lead 7-4.
Despite the three-run advantage for the home squad, Saint Rose's offense exploded in the top half of the sixth inning. The Golden Knights managed to score eight runs to take a commanding 12-7 lead.
Trailing by five, the Setters had ground to make up for in the final four innings. They managed to tack on one run in the sixth before kick-starting a productive rally in the eighth.
Three runs scored in the inning and the Setters threatened to swipe the lead from Saint Rose, but the rally ended on a long fly out to center field. Moving into the final inning, the Blue and Gold had a one-run deficit, 11-12.
In the final half inning, Pace had one runner reach base, but the door was closed on the Setters as Saint Rose took game one by a final score of 12-11. In a hard-fought battle, Pace never let up and came up just short of the comeback win.
The Blue and Gold produced 12 hits in the contest with five players tallying two hits. The two-hit club in game one included Matthew Rinaldi (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Dylan Koch (2-for-5), Hunter Goldstein (2-for-4, 1 RBI), Franco (2-for-5, 1 RBI), and Miller (2-for-5, 2 RBIs). Anthony Labita and Mason Baronian also had solid games at the dish tallying two RBIs each.
Game Two
In the second match-up of the doubleheader, the Setters turned the tables on Saint Rose. After allowing 12 runs in game one the Blue and Gold shut down the Golden Knights surrendering no runs.
Dan Brown took the bump for Pace and produced one of his best outings of the season on Senior Day. The 2024 graduate carried a no-hitter into the middle of the sixth inning as he dominated Saint Rose's lineup before Brendan McCann took over.
Offensively, the Setters outmatched the visitors with two separate four-run innings. The Blue and Gold held a nine-run advantage after the seventh inning and never looked back capturing their 24th victory of the year.
Brown yielded one hit and struck out seven to earn his fourth win of the year while McCann pitched 2.2 innings in relief allowing one run and one hit.
In the field, Rinaldi had multiple web gems in leftfield providing elite defense for the Setters. The senior managed to snag three diving catches in an eye-opening defensive performance.
Franco stayed hot at the plate, knocking three base hits with three RBI while Labita went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Up Next
Tomorrow at noon, the Setters wrap up their three-game set against Saint Rose with a single-game match-up.
