SPRINGFIELD, MA. – On Sunday, after a resilient postseason run, Pace University baseball is heading home as champions. Backed by a relentless offense and clutch pitching, the Setters took down Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), 9-3, to claim the 2025 Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference Championship in Springfield, MA.
It was a true team effort from the jump as every facet of the game came together at the perfect time for one of Pace's most complete games of the season. The win marks the second NE10 title for the Setters since joining the conference (first in 2023), and caps off a remarkable postseason run coming in as the second seed in the Southwest Division.
Vincent Civitella solidified himself as the All-Time Pace Baseball strikeout leader as he surpassed 230 total in his career. The Clifton, N.J. native finished with five strikeouts in five innings, breaking the program record previously held by 2019 graduate, Danny Wirchansky.
With the victory, Pace improves to 28-20 on the season and earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East Regional.
Here's What Happened
- After SNHU opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first, the Setters immediately flipped the script in the second inning. Anthony Labita sparked a five-run rally with a single, and Pace piled on from there. Andrew Heppner and Dominic Rivara followed with hits to load the bases, and Matthew Franco drew a walk to bring in the tying run.
- Cristian Rodriguez followed with another RBI walk, and then Josh Miller delivered in a big way with a two-run double to left center that gave Pace a 4-1 lead. Luke Rivara capped the inning with a single to drive in Miller, and early on, the Setters were in command of the contest.
- The Blue and Gold kept their foot on the gas pedal, and in the fourth, Mason Baronian knocked a double and then scored on another Labita RBI single. Heppner and Rivara joined forces again as Heppner doubled, and Rivara brought him home with another base hit, extending the Setters' lead to 7-1.
- Pace's starter, Civitella, was composed on the mound, tossing five strong innings while striking out five. The Penmen chipped away with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but out of the bullpen, Robert Gilchrist and Eric Santaella combined to shut them down the rest of the way.
- The Setters then put the finishing touches on their championship victory in the eighth. Tullo walked to lead off, and after a sacrifice bunt by Rivara, Baronian crushed his third double of the afternoon to put Pace ahead, 8-3. Labita then followed with a single to right field for his third RBI of the day, putting the Setters up by six runs, 9-3.
- In the ninth inning, Southwest Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Santaella, remained on the mound to record the final three outs for the Setters. Following a fly ball out to the centerfield, a Blue and Gold championship celebration ensued at Richard F. Bedard Field. The 9-4 victory solidified Pace baseball as the 2025 Northeast-10 Conference Champions, as they dominated both sides of the field in an unforgettable effort on the diamond.
Box Score Insights
- NE10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Luke Rivara, had nine hits (.529 BA/ 9-17), one home run, 7 RBIs, four stolen bases, and two runs scored in four games. In his championship game, the graduate student had a hit and an RBI alongside two stolen bases, leading the charge throughout the entire postseason.
- Baronian had a standout performance in the championship game, going 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. With his third base-knock, the River Vale, N.J. native tallied his 200th collegiate hit.
- Civitella had a record-breaking performance, going five total innings with five strikeouts, three hits allowed, and two earned runs. He now sits at 21 career wins, which is one victory away from tying the program record set back in the 1996 season.
- Closing out the game, the duo of Gilchrist (2.0 IP, 2 K's, 1 ER) and Santaella (2.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER) fueled the final innings on the bump.
- Labita (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) and Miller (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) both posted multi-RBI efforts while Dominic Rivara went 3-for-5 with an RBI).
- Pace's offense collectively finished with 16 hits compared to SNHU's four.
Up Next (NCAA East Regional Torunament)
With the conference championship trophy on its way to Pleasantville, N.Y., the Setters now turn their attention to the NCAA East Regional Tournament set for this coming week.
