Downey launches his fourth-career homerun
Young held the Setters scoreless through six innings, striking out five |
PLEASANTVILLE, New York (March 16, 2019) – The Stonehill College baseball team (8-10), who is ranked No. 10 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II East Region Poll fell twice to Pace University (8-1), who is ranked No. 8 in the East Region Saturday with scores of 2-1 and 4-2 in non-conference play.
Game 1: Stonehill 1 – Pace 2
The Skyhawks' senior pitcher Michael Young kept Stonehill within reach of a 1-0 victory as he struck out five batters and allowed five hits through six innings.
Stonehill's sole run came from senior right fielder Patrick Downey's fourth-career homerun to left center in the top of the fourth with one out, 1-0. Prior to his blast, the Skyhawks and the Setters tallied three hits and stranded four and three batters, respectively on base through the bottom of the third inning.
Pace held Stonehill to no hits in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, as the Setters were able to see at least one runner on in each of the final three innings. In the bottom of the seventh with one out and runners on second and third, Alex Pia was intentionally walked to load the bases. Harrison Treble drove in the Setters' first run of the game with a single to left field and Michael Salmonese mimicked his hit for the winning run, 2-1.
Game 2: Stonehill 2 – Pace 4
Pace's Lorenzo Russo tossed 5.0 innings, striking out seven batters in his first victory of the season, as Joseph Pizzingrillo allowed no hits in 2.0 innings, striking out three batters for his first save of the season.
The Skyhawks kicked off the game with two runs in the top of the first for a 2-0 advantage. On a wild pitch that walked Harrison Sabo, Matthew Rocco scored from third and advanced William Kelleher to third with no outs. Aidan Wilde connected for his fourth double of the season as the fourth batter driving home Kelleher easily with Sabo moving over to third. Russo retired the side with three-straight outs including two strikeouts.
Wilde tallies his fourth double of the season to register the Skyhawks sole RBI of game two |
Stonehill's Matthew DeFalco allowed the Setters' first hit of the game in the bottom of the frame as L Jacobi doubled to right field, but DeFalco got out of the inning with his first strikeout. Pace fought back in the bottom of the second as two runs crossed home from three hits including a triple and a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2.
Pace took their second lead of the day in the bottom of the third inning as Dean DePreta sent a long hard ball to left center for a ground-rule double scoring Bass from second, 3-2. Stonehill was only able to tally one hit in for the rest of the game in the top of the fourth, as the Setters once again kept them from rallying.
The Setters knocked in one more run in the bottom of the fifth with a single to center field from Luke Jacobi with one out and a runner on second base, 4-2. The Skyhawks' Richard Ryan came in for DeFalco in the bottom of the sixth as he allowed one hit from Treble and left him on third after two strikeouts.
Stonehill faces Pace University tomorrow, Sunday, March 17 for another non-conference doubleheader with a first pitch slated for noon at Finnerty Field in Pleasantville, New York.
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