MANCHESTER, N.H. – Pace University Baseball earned a 5-3 victory over Saint Anselm College on Thursday afternoon at Sullivan Park, using an early offensive surge to secure the road win. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the teams played a single nine-inning contest following a weather delay, with the Setters adjusting quickly to improve to 12-12 overall and 7-7 in the Northeast 10 Conference (NE10).

The Blue and Gold wasted no time taking control in the opening inning. After a leadoff walk and a single from Rocco Cimino set the table, Anthony Depetro launched a two-run home run to left to give Pace a 3-0 advantage.

Saint Anselm answered in the bottom half to cut the lead to 3-1. The Hawks pulled closer again in the third to make it 4-2 after the Setters added a run in the second on a defensive miscue.

Joe O'Toole worked through four innings, allowing just two runs, one earned, while keeping the Blue and Gold in front. The right-hander managed traffic effectively before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Pace added an insurance run in the fifth when Taison Jemison connected on a solo home run to extend the lead to 5-2. Cristian Rodriguez took over from there and controlled the final five innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out five.

Saint Anselm made things interesting in the ninth, scoring once to trim the deficit to 5-3 and bringing the tying run to the plate. Rodriguez recorded the final out to secure the victory and his fifth win of the season.

The Setters totaled nine hits in the win, with Cimino and Manny Carreras each recording two hits. Depetro drove in two runs while Jemison added a home run and an RBI, as the pitching staff held Saint Anselm to three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.

The Setters continue their series against the Hawks this Saturday at home with a doubleheader set to kick off at 12:00 p.m. from Peter X. Finnerty Field.