SETTERS NINTH INNING RALLY
FALLS SHORT;
BASEBALL DROPS 5-4 DECISION TO SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT
PLEASANTVILLE, NY - The Pace University baseball team, ranked second in the latest NCAA Division II Baseball Northeast Region Poll, lost to the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University, ranked sixth in the region, by the score of 5-4, in Northeast-10 Conference action today at Finnerty Field on the Pleasantville campus of Pace. The Setters drop to 27-14-1 overall on the season and 16-5-1 in the NE-10, while the Owls improve to 27-15 on the year and 17-6 in conference play.
Southern Connecticut drew first scoring a run in the top of the second on an RBI single from junior Justin Cox (Newburgh, NY) that brought home freshman Andrew Babb (Hopkinton, MA). The Owls would tack on another run in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead as senior Paul Izzo's (Cohoes, NY) RBI triple scored freshman Nick DeProspo (Worcester, MA).
Pace would answer with their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single from senior Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) drove home sophomore JJ Conrad (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley), cutting the Setters deficit to 2-1. Junior transfer Joe Cotone's (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland/UMass) RBI double that brought in senior Matt Rigoli (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) would tie the game at 2 apiece in the bottom of the sixth.
The Owls would regain the lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI sacrifice fly from junior Kevin Bowerman (West Haven, CT) that scored Cox to make the game 3-2. Southern Connecticut would take a 5-2 advantage, adding on two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run triple from junior Karl Derbacher (Northford, CT) that plated Bowerman and junior Mike Diaz (Monroe, CT).
The Setters would rally in the bottom of the ninth scoring a pair of runs, but would fall just short as the Owls would escape with the 5-4 win. Junior Andre Liscinsky's (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) RBI single would bring home Cotone and Liscinsky would come around to score on a passed ball.
Senior Toby Nylin (Pleasant Valley, CT) (4-2) started for Southern Connecticut going seven strong innings allowing two runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out six. Sophomore Kyle Penney (Columbia, CT) closed out the game pitching the final two innings, allowing two runs (unearned) on two hits, walking two and striking out one, to pick up his second save of the season.
Sophomore Mike Mastrogiovanni (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) started for Pace lasting just 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, while walking one and striking out four. Classmate MacKenzie King (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional) (2-2) took the loss allowing one unearned run on one hit, three walks, to go along with five strikeouts in three innings of relief. Sophomore Frank Luongo (West Harrison, NY/Harrison) tossed the final 2 2/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits, while walking two.
Pace returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April
26th, as the Setters will play host the University of
Massachusetts - Lowell in a key Northeast-10 Conference
doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.