BASEBALL DROPS A PAIR OF ONE-RUN GAMES TO BRYANT
SMITHFIELD, RI- The Pace baseball team dropped a doubleheader to the Bulldogs of Bryant University, 4-3 in the opener and 2-1 in the nightcap. The Setters fall to 14-16 overall and 7-4 in conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 16-12 and 9-3 in the NE-10.
Bryant took the early lead in the second, crossing the plate twice in the inning. Pace rallied in its half of the third, pushing across a run on doubles by Chris Brown (West Kingston, RI/South Kingston) and Andre Liscinsky (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) to cut the Bulldog lead in half at 2-1.
The Bulldogs came right back and regained a two-run advantage in the third, loading the bases with two outs and scored on a hit by pitch to force in Bryant's third run.
The Setters once again sliced into Bryant's lead as Liscinsky was once again involved in the scoring. He led off with a double, moved to third on a fielding error and scored on a wild pitch. Bryant tacked on an insurance run in the eighth before the Setters made one finally rally in the final inning.
In the ninth, Neil Ross (Cortland Manor, NY/Dominican College) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Adam Harwood (Los Angeles, CA/Brentwood) reached on an infield single, moving Ross to third. Harwood was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Brown, allowing Ross to score. However, the Setter rally fell short and the Bulldogs escaped with a 4-3 win.
For Pace, Angelo Fusaro (Stamford, CT/Westhill) tossed seven innings, allowing four hits and three run, while fanning one, to drop his record to an even 3-3 on the season. Frank Luongo (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) came on in relief, pitching the final inning, allowing one run and one hit.
In the nightcap, Bryant took advantage of Vinny Dammann's (Muilica Hill, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) dropped fly ball with two out and no one on in the fourth, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the frame. The Setters answered right back in the fifth as Ross lead off with a double, moving to third as Harwood singled. One out later, Ross came home on a wild pitch, with Harwood moving to second. Harwood was left stranded on the bases as Bryant forced back-to-back ground out to end the inning. Pace threatened in the eighth, getting a pair of runners on base, but could not push tied the game.
On the hill, Nicholas Demeo (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) tossed four and two-thirds innings, allowing three hits and the two unearned runs, while striking out four along the way to drop his record to 1-3 on the season. Eric Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) pitched the final three and one-third of shutout ball, only giving up one hit.
The Setters and the Bulldogs will complete their three-game
series on Monday, April 9, when the teams will travel to Pace's
Pleasantville campus for a 3:30 pm first pitch.
