PACE DROPS TWIN BILL TO #1 CAL STATE LA
LOS ANGELES, CA- The Setters dropped the first game of the doubleheader against #1 ranked Cal St LA, 14-0, and fell in the nightcap in a heartbreaker 11-8, on a game-winning grand slam homerun. The Setters drop to 5-8 overall on the season, while the Golden Eagles improve to 22-2-1.
The Golden Eagles struck early with a solo homer. Cal State broke the game open with a seven-run third inning, that featured a grand slam homerun. They tacked on solo runs in the fourth and sixth, while posting their final four in the seventh.
The Setters were limited to five hits, all singles, by Matt Arburr (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern), Ted Mullen (Madison, CT/Choate Rosemary Hall), Joe Barracato (Westbury, NY/Clarke), Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) and Vinny Dammann (Muilica Hill, NJ/Gloucester Catholic).
Justin Kanellis (Lansing, NY/Lansing Central) dropped his record to 0-2 on the season, tossing three plus innings, allowing seven hits, nine runs and four walks, while striking out two and also hitting five batters. Alexander Mason (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck), came on in relief, pitching 3 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and five runs to go along with one strikeout. Doug Wenz (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) closed out the final 1 2/3 innings only giving one hit and no runs.
In the nightcap, the Setters struck early as Cawley reached on a two-out single in the first inning and scored on Arburr's fourth long ball of the season. The Golden Eagle took the lead back in their half of the first with their second grand slam homerun of the afternoon to go ahead of the Setters 4-2.
Pace battled right back in the second as Matt Rigoli (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) and Aaron Zrenda Niantic, CT (Loomis Chaffee Prep) led off with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Andre Liscinsky Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) ripped a run scoring single to right scoring Rigoli. Adam Harwood (Los Angeles, CA/Brentwood) followed with an RBI single to drive in Zrenda and Liscinsky scored on a base hit by Cawley. The Setters tacked on more runs in the fourth as Liscinsky and Harwood had back-to-back one out singles. Cawley drew a walk to load the bases. Arburr reached base when the third baseman's throw to second sailed into right field, allowing Liscinsky and Harwood to score, as Cawley moved to third and Arburr advanced to second. Mullen hit a sac fly to lift to drive in Cawley.
The Golden Eagles chipped away at the Setter lead, cutting it half with a pair of runs in fifth before rallying in the seventh and final inning. Cal St. LA pushed across a run and loaded the bases with two outs. The Golden Eagles capped their come from behind victory with a game-ending grand slam homer to complete the twin bill sweep.
For Pace, Nicholas Demeo (Farmingville, NY/Sachem
East) started, going three and a third, giving up eight
hits and four earned runs, while striking out two.
MacKenzie King (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren
Regional) tossed 1 1/3, allowing a pair of hits and two
unearned runs, while fanning three. Zach Dayton (North
Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) pitched 1 1/3 allowing one run and
one hit. Eric Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) finished
the final two-thirds of an innings, surrendering the game-winning
blast in the seventh to pick up his first loss of the season.
