PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Tuesday, Pace University Baseball earned a 7-5 victory over Adelphi University at Finnerty Field, securing the season series 3-1 against the Panthers. The Setters erased a late tie with a three-run eighth inning and improved to 18-20 overall and 13-14 in Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) play.
Pace grabbed an early lead in the first inning when
Rocco Cimino singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Justin Crispino, and scored on an RBI single from
Brayden Sweppenhiser.
The Setters carried the 1-0 lead into the fifth before putting together their biggest inning of the afternoon.
Benjamin Tullo opened the frame with a single before Cimino followed with a hit of his own. Crispino then lined an RBI single to left field, and after
Mike Manganiello moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Sweppenhiser delivered again with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-0.
Dominic Carleo set the tone on the mound, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four.
Joe O'Toole followed with two innings in relief before Adelphi got on the board in the sixth inning.
The Panthers scored once in the sixth and once in the seventh before tying the game in the eighth on a two-run home run. Pace answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
Brian White opened the inning with a walk before
Nick Carlucci and
Cristian Rodriguez followed with back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. Tullo then lined a two-run single to center field to put the Setters back in front, 6-4. After Cimino advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Sweppenhiser drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-4. Adelphi added a run in the ninth, but
Eric Santaella closed the door to record his first save of the season.
Sweppenhiser finished with three hits and four RBIs, while Tullo collected two hits and two RBIs. Cimino scored twice and reached base three times, while Crispino added two hits and an RBI.
Cristian Rodriguez earned the win in relief, and Santaella secured the final three outs.
The Blue and Gold travel to face Assumption University this weekend for a four-game NE10 series beginning on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
