BASEBALL SPLITS WITH UMASS LOWELL
PLEASANTVILLE, NY - The Pace University baseball team split a doubleheader with the River Hawks of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, dropping the first game 7-6 and taking game two 9-2, this afternoon at Finnerty Field on the Pleasantville Campus of Pace University. Game one counted as a Northeast-10 Conference game, while game two counted as a non-conference contest. The Setters improve to 21-19 on the season, 13-7 in the NE-10, while the River Hawks go to 23-14 overall, 17-3 in conference play.
The Setters struck first in the bottom of the second as Neil Ross (Cortland Manor, NY/ Walter Panas/Dominican College) grounded out to first, which allowed Matt Arburr (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) to score from third. Joe Barracato (Westbury, CT/Clarke) would later single through the left side to drive in Ted Mullen (Madison, CT/Choate Rosemary Hall). UMass Lowell would tie the game quickly in the following inning on Jerod Edmondson's two-run double to left center that scored Tim Manton and Jarod Notargiacomo.
Pace retook the lead scoring a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third as Andre Liscinsky (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) reached base on a fielding error by the shortstop and would come around to score on a double play. Taking advantage of the extended inning, Mullen hit his fourth homerun of the season, a solo shot to right center. The Setters lead would not last long as the River Hawks took their first lead scoring three unearned runs in the top of the fourth. A fielding error by the right fielder with the bases loaded allowed all three base runners to score. The game would be tied again as Adam Harwood scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Liscinsky in the bottom of the fourth.
The game would remain tied at five until the top of the seventh, as the River Hawks took their final lead of the game as Steve Paddock's 2-run single scored Edmondson and Sean Patno. Pace would threaten in the ninth, but would come up short scoring only one run, a Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) RBI single scoring Barracato, for the 7-6 final.
MacKenzie King (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional) (3-1) took the loss for the Setters allowing two runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Justin Kanellis (Lansing, NY/Lansing Central) started going 3 2/3 allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits, walking two and striking out two. Frank Luongo (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) tossed the final two innings, allowing a lone walk to go along with three strikeouts. For the visitors, James Barry earned the win coming in relief, while Pat Donavan picked up the save.
UMass Lowell would strike first in the nightcap scoring a run in the top of the fourth. Pace would tie the game in their half on an RBI single by Aaron Zrenda (Niantic, CT/Loomis Chaffee Prep), scoring Cawley. Lowell would score the second and last run of the game in the top of the sixth, before Pace rattled off eight runs in the final three innings to close out the game 9-2. The Setters offense exploded for five runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by Chris Spatkowski's (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) three-run double down the left field line.
Alexander Mason (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck) (2-0) picked up the victory in relief, going two innings, allowing a run on three hits. Eric Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) earned his sixth save on the year, tossing two innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out one.
The Setters return to action on Monday, April 23rd,
as Pace travels to Waltham, MA to take on the Falcons of Bentley
College in a Norhteast-10 Conference match up with first pitch
scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
