Pleasantville, N.Y. (March 21)-The Saint Anselm College baseball team opened their NE-10 schedule with a 3-2 and a 2-1 extra innings win over the Pace University Setters on Saturday afternoon at Finnerty Field. With the wins the Hawks improve to 5-9 overall and 2-0 in NE-10 play, while the setters drop to 5-11 and 0-2 in conference action.

In the first game, Saint Anselm, who played as the home team, would hit the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI groundout from Matt Sucharewicz (Peabody, Mass.) scoring Jimmy Garrigan (Plymouth, Mass.) who doubled earlier in the inning.

In the bottom half of the eighth the Hawks would extend their lead on a RBI single from Ben Waldrip (Medford, Mass.) scoring Jeff Criscuolo (Durham, Conn.) who singled and stole second base to get into scoring position.

Saint Anselm hurler Nick Barese (Braintree, Mass.) went eight plus innings allowing only one run, scattering five hits and striking out three.

In the top half of the ninth the Setters would even up the game on a two-RBI single from Tyler Hart (Poughquag, N.Y.) to make it 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. After a double and a sacrifice-bunt moved Garrigan to third base, freshman third baseman Dan DeCoste (Chelmsford, Mass.) ripped a walk-off single up the middle for the 3-2 NE-10 win.

Hawks reliever David Giarrusso (Cranston, R.I.) grabbed the win by pitching the ninth inning and allowing one run on two hits and striking out two batters, while Pace pitcher Eric Brown (Norwalk, Conn.) took the loss pitching only a third of an inning and allowing one run.

In the second game, No runs were scored until the bottom of the eighth inning when Ben Gunn (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) would hit an RBI single to score pinch-runner Steven Panza (Watertown, Mass.) for the 1-0 Hawks lead.

Pace would even the game in the top of the ninth on an RBI walk from junior outfielder Chris Spatkowski (Bristol, Conn.) to make the game head into extra innings.

The Hawks would walk off with the win again when Eric Baca (Franklin, Mass.) would grab an RBI reaching on a fielders choice scoring Criscuolo for the 2-1 victory.

Saint Anselm starter Sean Hayden (Haverhill, Mass.) would throw eight and two-thirds innings allowing only one run and striking out three batters, while Tim Cooney (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) would go four and a third innings of relief allowing only one hit and picking up the win. Pace pitcher Salvatore DePaolo (East Meadow, N.Y.) would pick up the loss walking two batters and allowing the winning run.

The Hawks are back in action tomorrow, March 22nd, as they will fact the Pace University Setters again for a single game at 1 p.m.