PLEASANTVILLE, NY – Leadoff hitter Matt Rinaldi blasted a solo home-run in the first Pace at bat of the season, then scored the game-winning run after a walk-off RBI single from Mitchell McCabe to give the Setters a 5-4, 11-inning, season-opening victory over Saint Michael’s College.

The Setters erased two deficits in route to the extra innings win.

Rinaldi’s homer tied things up in the bottom of the first inning after a John Cianciolo single in the top of the first gave Saint Mike’s a 1-0 lead. The Purple Knights would tack on three runs in the top of the second to take an early 4-1 advantage.

Saint Michael’s would not score again, however, as the Pace pitchers buckled down for only three hits in the in the following nine innings.

Michael Roll earned the win after three innings of relief, tossing three strikeouts and allowing just one hit in only 12 efficient pitches. Dan Brown also allowed just one hit while hurling three scoreless innings before handing the baton over to Roll.

In the bottom of the fourth, down 4-1, Luke Rivara singled to left, scoring Nate Carminucci, after which Cole Resetar doubled to left, bringing Rivara and Anthony Labita home to tie the game up.

In the ensuing six innings neither team would score, setting the stage for McCabe’s heroics.

Although the Purple Knights had kept him hitless in his five previous at bats, the graduate student’s clutch gene showed up in the most opportune moment, as the Chelmsford, Massachusetts native ripped the first pitch he saw in the at-bat for his first hit of the season, enabling Rinaldi to trot home from third and win the ballgame.

Rinaldi, Rivara, and Resetar led the team in hits with two apiece.

Rinaldi scored Pace’s first and last runs, the only Setter to score twice.

Resetar batted-in a team high two runs in his first game in a Blue & Gold uniform.