Baseball

Setters Take Control of Baseball Championship Weekend

Pace and SNHU Matchup in Best of 3 Series

Championship Central

Pace Wins Game One of Best of Three Series for NE10 Championship

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - ICYMI, due to weather concerns, the NE10 Baseball Championship Weekend format has changed. See the full story here. The final four teams faced off in single elimination games Saturday afternoon. Pace defeated Franklin Pierce at Springfield College, and SNHU defeated AIC. Pace and SNHU played game one of a best-of-three series Saturday May 10th as well. The two teams will play again Sunday May 11th in Game 2 at 11am, and Game 3 if necessary, to determine the NE10 title. 

NE No. 3 Southern NH 2, SW No. 1 American Int'l 1  Box Score

Redshirt-sophomore Zachary Brassill (No. Hampton, N.H.) allowed just one unearned run over six-and-a-third innings, as the Southern New Hampshire University baseball team, the No. 3 seed in the NE10 Northeast Division, edged American International College, the top seed in the Southwest, 2-1, Saturday to advance to the best-of-three finals series against the No. 2 seed from the Southwest, Pace University.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS
  • Brassill – 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB (win; 3-3)
  • Freshman Jackson Marshall (Hooksett, N.H.) – 2-for-5, R
  • Senior Jancarlos Colon (Santa Isabel, P.R.) – 1-for-3, RBI, BB
  • Junior Kyle Lavigne (Bedford, N.H.) – 1-for-3, RBI, BB
  • Junior Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) – 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 1 BB
  • Junior Austin Trumpour (Jensen Beach, Fla.) – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB (save; 1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • American International went ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the first when Yeudy Ramirez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, scampered to third on an errant throw on a pick-off attempt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Frometa.
  • Southern New Hampshire tied it with a two-out rally in the third, with Marshall singling to center, junior Jake Pisano (Hamden, Conn.) being hit by a pitch and Colon drawing a walk to load the bases. Lavigne followed with an RBI base knock to even the score, 1-1.
  • SNHU took the lead in the fifth when Pisano hit a one-out double to left-center and scored when Colon poked a single through the left side.
  • AIC would only manage two hits the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Pisano (run, double), junior Jake Risedorf (Barkhamsted, Conn.; walk) and sophomore Joel Valera (Boston, Mass.) were all 1-for-4.
  • Graduate student Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, D.R.) finished 1-for-5 with a double.
NOTES
  • Southern New Hampshire, receiving votes in the, National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) Division II Top 25, has won 15 of its last 18, including eight of 10 and three of four.
  • SNHU improves to 23-11 (.676) in its 12th appearance in the NE10 postseason, including 1-0 against AIC. The Penmen advance to a best-of-three championship series against Pace, which defeated Franklin Pierce University, the top seed in the Northeast Division, 9-2, earlier Saturday.
  • The Penmen lead the all-time series with American Int'l, 38-10, and has won seven of the last nine. SNHU has also now won 18 of 19 at AIC, including two straight. The teams split a doubleheader at Bedard Field back on March 23.
  • Lavigne has hit safely in 13 of 14, including eight-in-a-row.
  • Pisano, who has a hit in 20 of the 23 games he has played in this season, extends his hitting streak to seven games.
  • Marshall has hit safely in seven of his last eight, including four-in-a-row.
  • Colon has a hit in 41 of his 46 games this year, including 20 of his last 22, 17 of 18 and five straight.

- Recap Courtesy of SNHU Athletics - 

SW No. 2 Pace 9, NE No. 1 Franklin Pierce 2    Box Score

  • Pace wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Luke Rivara doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a groundout by Mason Baronian. After a single by Anthony Labita and a throwing error, Dominic Rivara singled in a run, and Michael Franco followed with an RBI single to make it 3–0.
  • In the third inning, the Setters broke the game open with five more runs. Andrew Heppner was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Rivara followed with a single. Franco dropped a bunt that turned into two runs after a throwing error by the pitcher. Cristian Rodriguez then singled, and Josh Miller added an RBI hit. Luke Rivara kept the rally going with an RBI single of his own, and Baronian added a groundout RBI to push the lead to 8–0.
  • Pace tacked on its final run in the fifth. After a leadoff walk and stolen base by Benjamin Tullo, Rivara singled again to bring him home and finish a five-hit day at the plate. He also added two stolen bases.
  • On the mound, right-hander Justin Dressler was sharp, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two. Franklin Pierce managed both of its runs in the sixth, but Dressler limited the damage.
  • McCann entered in the seventh and shut the door with three scoreless innings of relief, scattering three hits and striking out two to earn his first save of the season.

- Recap Courtesy of Pace Athletics - 

SW No. 2 Pace 3, NE No. 3 Southern NH 0   Box Score

  • The tightly contested postseason match-up remained scoreless through three innings as both starters held firm. Aidan Kempf worked around early pressure, stranding two runners in the third with a strikeout and a timely double play.
  • Pace broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Heppner worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Franco single, Cristian Rodriguez reached on a fielder's choice that brought Heppner home, putting the Setters on the board, 1-0.
  • In the sixth, third baseman Labita extended the lead with a solo shot to right field—his second home run of the season—making it 2-0.
  • The Setters tacked on an insurance run in the eighth. Heppner singled up the middle, moved to third on a pair of wild pitches, and scored when Franco walked and advanced to second on yet another errant pitch from SNHU's bullpen.
  • Kempf earned his first win of the season, tossing six shutout innings with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Huchro was lights out in relief, earning his first save with three scoreless innings and three punchouts.
Box Score Insights
  • Pace's impressive offensive showcase was led by Luke Rivara, who continued his hot hitting, posting six total hits and three RBIS throughout both games.
  • Rodriguez blistered the ball on the day with five total hits, one run, and one RBI.
  • Overall, the Setters knocked the baseball all around the field, producing 24 hits while holding their opponents to a combined 14.
  • Effective pitching and hitting have put the Setters in a prime position to earn their second Northeast-10 Conference Championship tomorrow, as they are one win away from glory.


- Recap Courtesy of Pace Athletics - 


2025 NE10 Baseball Championship
 
Northeast Division
NE10
1. Franklin Pierce 20-5
2. Bentley 19-6
3. So. New Hampshire 18-7
4. Saint Anselm 9-16
Southwest Division
NE10
1. American International 13-11
2. Pace * 12-12
3. Southern Connecticut * 12-12
4. New Haven * 12-12
 
* Within the mini-conference, Pace earned the #2 seed with a 5-1 record; SCSU and New Haven were both 2-4. SCSU earned the #3 seed based on a 2-1 record vs. New Haven during the regular season.

Wednesday, May 6th – First Round (single elimination)
Game 1: #1 SW AIC 6, #4 SW New Haven 4
Game 2: #2 SW Pace 5, #3 SW SCSU 3
Game 3: #1 NE Franklin Pierce 7, #4 NE Saint Anselm 1
Game 4: #3 NE SNHU 8, #2 NE Bentley 2
 
Saturday, May 10th and Sunday May 11th (at American International)
Game 5: #3 NE SNHU 2, #1 SW AIC 1
Game 6: #2 SW Pace 9, #1 NE Franklin Pierce 2
Game 7: #2 SW Pace 3, #3 NE SNHU 0
Game 8: #2 SW Pace vs #3 NE SNHU (May 11th - 11am)
Game 9: #2 SW Pace , #3 NE SNHU (if necessary)

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 11 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

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