#4 SETTERS DROP FINAL FOUR OPENER TO #1 FRANKLIN PIERCE
LOWELL, MA- The Pace baseball team lost in the opener of the NE-10 Tournament Final Four. The Setters fall to 29-25 overall on the season. The Setters remain alive in the double elimination tournament and will play UMass Lowell on Saturday, May 12 at 11:00 am at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, MA.
The Setters took an early lead on the #1 seeded Ravens, scoring in each of the first three innings, as Neil Ross had an RBI single in the first and Andre Liscinsky came through with a run scoring base hit in the second to put Pace up 2-0. Pace put together a rally in the third, as Matt Arburr led off with an infield single. Matt Rigoli singled with one out and Adam Harwood's two out single loaded the bases. Joe Barracato extended the Setter lead with a single up the middle to drive in Arburr. Jack Cawley had the key hit of the inning, as his single drove in Harwood and Rigoli to put the Setters up 5-0.
Franklin Pierce chipped away at the Setter lead, scoring three times in the fourth with the key hit coming off the bat of Matt Anderson, who had a two-run double. The Setters got a run back in the fifth as singles by Ross and Brown put runners at second and third with one out. Ross was tagged out at home on a failed squeeze bunt play, allowing Brown to move to third. Harwood's grounder to third was misplayed, giving Harwood first base and allowing Brown to score the Setters' sixth run of the game.
Kevin Renaud hit a solo home run for th Ravens in the sixth, and tied the game in the seventh on a balk and a sacrifice fly. In the decisive ninth, the Ravens racked up a pair of hits, to put runners at second and third, followed by an intentional walk to load the bases. Renaud ended the game with a sac fly to right, allowing the winning run to cross the plate.
On the hill, Angelo Fusaro started, tossing five innings,
allowing five hits and three runs, while fanning three. Frank
Luongo tossed the sixth and to one batter in the seventh, giving up
two hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out one. Michael
Sheehy came on in relief, facing three batters, allowing one hit
and one run. MacKenzie King closed out the final 2 1/3 innings,
allowing a pair of hits, the game-winning run, while striking out
three.
