PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – After a long offseason, Pace baseball returned to action Sunday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field for a doubleheader match-up versus Bloomfield College. Showing no signs of rust, the Setters cruised past the Bears in both contests capturing game one 20-0 and game two 7-1.

With the Sunday sweep over Bloomfield, the Blue and Gold kick off their 2025 season with a 2-0 overall record as they prepare to head south for their next series of games.

Game One

• After neither team crossed the plate in the first inning, the Setters tacked on their first run of 2025 with a single from Benjamin Tullo giving them an early 1-0 lead. A sacrifice fly from Josh Miller increased Pace's advantage to 2-0 before the runs piled on in Pleasantville.
• After two runs passed home plate in the third, a long home run to left field from Matthew Franco opened up the scoring for the Blue and Gold, 5-0.
• Two innings later, Andrew Heppner stepped up to bat for the first time in his collegiate career. The freshman delivered for the Setters launching a three-run home run over the left-field fence to put Pace ahead 8-0.
• Runs continued to light up the scoreboard for the home squad and in the eighth inning, a grand slam from Mason Baronian put the game far out of reach for the Bears, 16-0.
• Before the games end, four more runs were tallied by the Setters leading to a commanding 20-0 win.
• In the impressive effort, the Blue and Gold notched 12 hits and produced an 11-run inning in the bottom half of the eighth.
• On the mound, Vincent Civitella and Aidan Kempf shined for Pace as they each tossed three innings with Civitella posting seven strikeouts and Kempf six.

Game Two (7 Innings)

• In game two of the doubleheader, it was more of the same for the Setters as they held a 4-0 lead after two innings led by RBIs from Luke Rivara, Brayden Sweppenhiser, and Miller (2 RBIs).
• After the four-run inning, Heppner found the barrel of the bat once again driving a home run to left center field pushing Pace ahead 6-0.
• A failed pick-off attempt led to the seventh run of the game for Pace and the rest of the way the offense remained quiet.
• Bloomfield eventually scored their first run of the doubleheader in the sixth inning, but any chance of a comeback was shut down by the pitching efforts of Pace.
• Brendan McCann closed the door on the visitors in the seventh inning putting the finishing touches on Pace's 7-1 victory at home.
• On the bump in game two, Ryan Degnan and Cristian Rodriguez both pitched two innings combining for five strikeouts.

Box Score Insights

• On the day, Heppner highlighted Pace's offense going 3-for-3 (2 walks) with two home runs and a team-high six RBIs.
• Baronian totaled four RBIs and four total bases throughout both games.
• Miller showcased his talent in the field and at the plate driving in three runs on two hits.
• All-around, the Setters were proficient in every aspect of the diamond during their season-opening doubleheader and will look to keep the momentum riding in their next match-up.

Up Next (D'Youville University)
Following their home opener in Pleasantville, the Setters hit the road and will head to Cary, N.C. to take on D'Youville University Friday at 3:00 p.m.