Pleasantville, N.Y. - A 9-8 extra-inning victory clinched a series win for the Adelphi University baseball team at NE10 Southwest Division rival Pace University on Monday.
It is the fifth time in as many chances that Adelphi (16-5, 7-1 NE10) has won a regular-season series against an NE10 Southwest Division opponent, dating back to last year.
The Panthers, who climbed to No. 3 in the latest NCBWA East Region Poll, had their 10-game winning streak snapped, but are now winners of 11 of their last 12.
Game 1: Adelphi 1, Pace 3
Despite threatening to tie the game late, Adelphi was held to its lowest single-game scoring output for only the second time this season.
Pace's Patrick Gleason let up just one run and walked two in a complete-game effort.
The Panthers fell into a 2-0 hole and began to rally in the sixth.
Jack Ryan cut the deficit in half with a comebacker that caromed off the pitcher for a base hit with the bags full.
Although Pace got the run back in the following inning, Adelphi still had an opportunity to level the score in its final turn at-bat.
A key two-out error loaded the bases for
Kyle Olson, who hit a soft grounder to second with the tying and go-ahead runs aboard to end it.
Game 2: Adelphi 9, Pace 8 - F/10
With a chance to lock up the series, the Panthers trailed 4-1 after three innings.
The bottom-third of the Adelphi lineup turned it around. In the top of the fourth,
Johnny Catuosco and
Jack Wishner both drove in a run that pulled the visitors within a run at 4-3.
Adelphi's No. 7-through-9 hitters were a combined 9-for-13 with six RBIs and three runs scored in the nightcap, led by a perfect 5-for-5 day from Catuosco.
Two innings later, the Panthers trailed 5-3, until a three-run sixth slung Adelphi in front. Catuosco and Wishner both came through again, this time with RBI singles, and
Matt Alifano lifted a go-ahead sacrifice fly to center.
Adelphi tacked on insurance in the seventh and ninth, but Pace forced extras with a clutch two-out bases-clearing double by Luke Jacobi when the Setters were down to their final out.
As the game went to extra frames, Olson doubled to set the table in the 10th.
Cooper Johnson then knocked him in with a sacrifice fly that put Adelphi back in the lead.
The bullpen door only swung open once more and
Max Steele shut the door with a perfect 1-2-3 inning that earned him his second save of the season.
Head Coach
Bill Ianniciello and the Panthers have a quick turnaround, as Adelphi meets Mercy College tomorrow (Apr. 5) in a non-conference tilt at 3:30 p.m. in Dobbs Ferry.
