Pace Baseball Sweeps Felician to Improve to 4-3

The following announcement was submitted by the Pace University Department of Athletics. To learn how to post your news on Patch, click here.

LYNDHURST, N.J.- The Pace Baseball team moved over the .500 mark in 2013 as they swept a non-conference doubleheader over Felician College. The Setters took the opener 8-4 and completed the sweep with a 1-0 victory in the nightcap. Pace improves to 4-3 on the season, while Felician falls to 7-12 overall.

The Setters got on the board early in the opening game of the twin bill as they scored five runs in the first two innings. Brandon Martineson (Prospect, KY/Warwick) drove in the first run of the game with a double in the opening innings. James Pjura (Shelton, CT/Shelton) added a run with a groundout, while Joe Solomeno (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) put the Setters up 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.

Chris Gili (Manorville, NY/Eastport-South Manor) singled in the second inning for the fourth run of the game and Pace added a run on a wild pitch later in the frame. Felician got a run back in the second but Gili answered with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Felician rallied with a run in the fifth innings, but Pjura tripled home a run in the seventh, scoring on the play on an error by the centerfielder.

On the mound, Neil Pezzullo (Harwich, MA/Harwich) got the start, tossing five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out three to improve to 2-1 on the season. Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out three. Eddie Byrne (Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepanic)recorded the final out to earn his five save of the season.

In the nightcap, the Setters scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning as David Pepe(Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) singled with two outs. Martineson came through with a big hit as he tripled down the right field line to score Pepe for a 1-0 Pace lead.

On the mound, Jonathan Chudy (Goshen, NY/Goshen) was dominant as he tossed a one-hit shutout over six innings. Chudy (1-1) struck out four in the game. Robert Rizzitelli (Monroe, CT/Masuk) faced four batters in the final innings, striking out three to pick up the save.

The Setters are back in action on Tuesday, March 12 as they will host Concordia College at Finnerty Field at 3 pm.