BASEBALL SLUGS PAST C.W. POST 8-1
PLEASANTVILLE, NY - The Pace University baseball team, ranked third in the latest NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Poll, defeated the Pioneers of Long Island University - C.W. Post by the score of 8-1 this afternoon at Finnerty Field. With the win, the Setters improve to 24-12-1 on the season, while the Pioneers fall to 17-19 overall on the year.
Pace broke through first scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Laurence Flammia (Massapeaqua Park, NY/St. Anthony's) singled to right center to lead off the inning and later advanced to second on a throwing error by the first basemen on a failed pick-off attempt. Senior Joe Barracato (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) followed with a single to right center, which was bobbled by the right fielder, allowing Flammia to score with ease and Barracato to advance to second. Barracato would later come in to score on an RBI groundout by classmate Matt Rigoli (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany).
C.W. Post cut their deficit to 2-1, scoring their lone run of the ball game in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Bryan Bonin (Commack, NY) reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman and would later advance to third on a single from junior Kyle Walker (Wantagh, NY). Bonin would eventually come in to score on a wild pitch
The Setters would answer with a five-run inning in their half of the sixth to put the game out of reach and take a 7-1 lead. Rigoli began the rally with an infield single and scored on a triple by junior transfer Joe Cotone (Yorktown Heights, NY/UMass/Lakeland). Cotone would come in to score on a sacrifice fly from senior Chris Brown (West Kingston, RI/South Kingston). After a walk by Aaron Zrenda (Niantic, CT/Loomis Chaffee Prep) and a single from Brian Kraminitz (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan Regional) put runners on first and second, Flammia came through with an RBI single to left bringing home Zrenda. Kraminitz would come in to score on a bases loaded walk by Barracato and Flammia would come in to score the final run of the inning on an RBI infield single by senior Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep). Pace would tack on its final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Andre Liscinsky (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) that plated Flammia.
Sophomore Salvatore DePaola (East Meadow, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) (2-2) started for Pace picking up the victory tossing 5 1/3 solid innings allowing one run, unearned, on four hits, walking two and striking out one. Eric Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) tossed 1 2/3 innings of relief giving up just a pair of hits, while Chris Camastro (Lagrangeville, NY/Arlington) and Michael Franza (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) each came in for an inning of relief to finish off the Pioneers. Camastro surrendered just one hit, while Franza gave up a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out one to end the game.
Senior Keith Karlsen (Farmingdale, NY) (0-3) started for C.W. Post, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out one over 5 2/3 innings of work. Freshman Eric Stampfl (Dix Hills, NY) relieved Karlsen tossing 1 1/3 innings allowing one hit and a pair of walks. Senior Anthony Rinaldi (Levittown, NY) finished the game for the Pioneers pitching the final inning, allowing one run on two hits, walking one and fanning one.
Pace will be back in action on Monday, April 21st, as
the Setters will travel to Rindge, New Hampshire to take on the
Ravens of Franklin Pierce University (26-7-1/11-5-1 NE-10) in a
pivotal Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader. The Ravens, a
perennial national and regional powerhouse, are ranked #16 in the
latest Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Poll. First
pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Dr. Pappas Field.