CARY, N.C. – On Saturday, Pace University Baseball continued its weekend series of matchups at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, dropping a pair of tightly contested games to Point Park University in a neutral-site doubleheader. The Setters fell 5–3 in the seven-inning opener before coming up just short again in a 4–3 decision in Game Two.

Game One (7 innings)
Point Park used timely execution early to build a 3–0 lead through three innings. A sacrifice fly and RBI single in the second inning put Pace in a 2–0 hole, and another run in the third stretched the deficit to three.

The Setters answered in the fourth with their strongest offensive inning of the game. Rocco Cimino sparked the rally with a single before Brayden Sweppenhiser drove a triple into the gap to bring Pace within 3–1. Dominic Rivara followed with a sacrifice fly, cutting the margin to 3–2. Nick Carlucci later doubled in the frame to keep pressure on, but the Pioneers escaped without further damage.

Point Park added two insurance runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 5–2. Pace continued to push, however, and mounted a late threat in the seventh. Carlucci singled to open the inning, and Cristian Rodriguez delivered an RBI base hit to trim the deficit to 5–3. The Setters brought the tying run to the plate but could not complete the comeback.

Carlucci finished 2-for-3 with a double, Rodriguez collected two hits and an RBI, and Sweppenhiser added a triple and RBI as Pace totaled six hits in the opener.

Game Two
The second game featured early fireworks. After Point Park plated a run in the top of the first, Sweppenhiser answered immediately in the bottom half with a solo home run to even the score at 1–1.

The game remained tight through the middle innings before Point Park moved ahead 2–1 in the sixth on a solo homer. Pace countered with a duo of freshmen in the bottom of the inning as Anthony Depetro singled and later scored on an RBI base hit from Manny Carreras to knot the game at 2–2.

Point Park regained the lead in the seventh, but once again the Setters responded. Cimino doubled in the bottom half and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3–3.

The decisive run came in the ninth when Point Park capitalized on a leadoff single and RBI knock to take a 4–3 advantage. Pace looked to answer in its final at-bat but could not extend the game.

Sweppenhiser homered and scored twice in Game Two, Cimino doubled and crossed the plate, and Carreras drove in a run as the Setters outhit Point Park 10–9 in the nightcap.

The Blue and Gold conclude their season-opening weekend tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.