Maloney strikes out 11

Box Score

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (April 18, 2010) – Freshman right-hander Brian Sundberg threw a four-hit shutout on Sunday afternoon to lead Pace to a 1-0 victory over the No. 29 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Finnerty Field. Junior left-hander Brian Maloney (Brockton, Mass.) threw a four-hitter as well, with 11 strikeouts, but took the loss for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 26-11 (12-5 Northeast-10), while Pace improves to 12-23 (6-14 Northeast-10) with the victory.

Pitching was the story of the afternoon, as each starter tossed a complete game and allowed only four hits. Sundberg tossed the shutout to pick up the win (4-1) for Pace. He walked two, threw a wild pitch and struck out four. Sundberg gave up just one extra-base hit, a one-out double in the sixth by Franklin Pierce junior third baseman Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass.).

Maloney was equally brilliant on the other side for Franklin Pierce. Only a pair of first-inning doubles would be his undoing, as he allowed one run on four hits over eight innings, but was saddled with the loss (2-2). Maloney did not issue a walk and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts.

Pace scored the game's only run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, sophomore shortstop Kyle Turnier drove a double to left field. Senior left fielder Mike Torello followed with a double to center to drive home the only run the Setters would need. From that point, Maloney would retire the next 16 batters he faced, and stranded runners at second and third in the seventh inning, but his offense could not find a run to tie the game. Franklin Pierce left runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, sixth and ninth innings

The Ravens return to the field on Monday, April 19, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Penmen Field in Manchester, N.H.