WORCESTER, Mass. – Pace University Baseball split Sunday's Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) doubleheader at Assumption University, falling 7-0 in game one before erupting for a 20-8 victory in game two to claim the four-game series, 3-1. After seeing a five-game winning streak snapped in the opener, the Setters answered emphatically in the second game, pounding out 21 hits in one of their highest-scoring performances of the season while improving to 21-21 overall and 16-15 in NE10 play.
Game One (7 innings)
Pace was limited offensively in the opener, managing three hits as Assumption used an early lead and strong pitching to even the series.
The Greyhounds scored twice in the first inning and added to the lead in the second before a three-run fourth inning pushed the margin to 6-0. A solo home run in the fifth capped the scoring.
The Setters threatened in the fourth when
Nick Carlucci doubled and
Benjamin Tullo and
Mike Manganiello worked walks to load the bases, but Assumption escaped the jam to preserve the shutout.
Carlucci,
Brian White and Manganiello each recorded hits, while
Aidan Kempf struck out six over 4.1 innings before
Brian Espinal provided 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.
Game Two (7 innings)
The Blue and Gold wasted no time flipping the script.
After scoring four runs in the second, Pace erupted for six in the third and five more in the fourth to build a commanding 15-0 lead.
Brian White drove in two in the second, while
Rocco Cimino and
Justin Crispino each plated two during the six-run third.
The offensive onslaught continued in the fourth when
Manny Carreras launched a three-run home run as part of a five-run inning, stretching the lead to 15-0.
Pace added one in the fifth, three in the sixth and another in the seventh, reaching the 20-run mark behind relentless pressure throughout the lineup.
Carreras finished with three RBIs and scored four times, Crispino went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, White drove in four, and Cimino added three RBIs.
Brayden Sweppenhiser collected four hits, while Manganiello had two hits and an RBI in the 21-hit outburst.
Cristian Rodriguez set the tone on the mound, tossing four scoreless innings to earn the win, while
Brendan McCann added two shutout frames before Assumption mounted a late rally.
Despite the Greyhounds scoring eight runs in the seventh, the Setters closed it out to secure the series victory and their sixth win in the last seven games.
The Setters return to action Tuesday when they travel to face Saint Anselm College beginning at 3:00 p.m.
