ALBANY, N.Y. – The College of Saint Rose bounced back from Saturday's pair of season-opening setbacks to Northeast-10 Conference rival Pace University with a pair of victories against the Setters this afternoon at Bob Bellizzi Field.
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The Golden Knights (2-2/2-2 NE10) won the opener 10-2 and capped the sweep with a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.
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"These were two great team wins today. We came to the field with a purpose and a lot of energy. We are tough to beat when we do that," said head coach
Wayne Jones.
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Saint Rose jumped out to 3-0 lead in the first inning of game one and scored six more in the second and another in the third. The Setters (7-4/3-3) pushed across a pair of perfunctory runs in the ninth.
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Sophomore catcher
Derek Haughey belted a two-run homer over the right field fence while junior first baseman
Jack McDonald finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI lead the Golden Knights offense. Sophomore center fielder
Janiel Ramirez also drove in a pair of runs.
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The offensive output proved more than enough for senior right-hander
Frankie Pizzo who tossed 6.0 innings of three-hit, shutout ball to pick up the win.
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Senior center fielder Matt Bass finished 2-for-3 for Pace.
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In the finale, Ramirez smashed a two-run shot to make it 3-0 Saint Rose after three. The Setters got one back in the fourth and pulled to within a run in the seventh. However, Haughey came through again in the home half by driving a two-run double to deep center to make it 5-2 Golden Knights.
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Pace threatened in the seventh with one run in and a runner on first with nobody down. However, junior right-hander
Cameron Flynn came out of the bullpen and recorded three outs on two pitches. He first induced a classic 4-6-3 double play and then got the next batter to ground out to third to end the threat. Flynn put the Setters down in order in the ninth to pick up the save.
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Junior right-hander
Jared Restmeyer surrendered just two hits and an unearned run while fanning five throughout 6.0 innings of work to collect the victory.
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Junior designated hitter
Francisco Infante finished 3-for-4, while junior third
Tyler Osborne went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
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Looking ahead, both squads have four-game road NE10 series next weekend. The Golden Knights will visit Le Moyne, while the Setters travel to Southern Connecticut State.
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