Seton Hall (12-4) head coach Rob Sheppard was faced with a decision yesterday that the team had not yet needed to make all year.
The past two Wednesday afternoon games that the Pirates were scheduled for were cancelled due to inclement weather.
Yesterday's game did not bring about sunshine and blue skies, but it did give the team a chance to showcase Sheppard's first choice for a weekday starting pitcher.
Freshman Anthony Pacillo had entered yesterday's game with just 2.1 innings pitched in two appearances on the season, but got the start on the hill against Saint Peter's. Pacillo held the Peacocks down in his five innings of work.
The lefty struck out two, allowing just one run in the five frames leaving the Pirates with a 4-1 lead entering the sixth.
The Saint Peter's offense didn't hit their stride until Pacillo was relieved at the start of the sixth inning by sophomore Sam Burum. The Peacocks jumped on Burum, only taking three batters to push a run across, ending Burum's day before he even recorded an out.
Burum was relieved by freshman Zach Prendergast who also felt the wrath of the Saint Peter's offense. The Peacock's plated two more in the inning bringing the score to a 4-4 tie.
Prendergast started the seventh but was pulled immediately after giving up a first pitch double to the first batter he faced, senior Ariel Ramirez, the number-nine hitter in the Peacock's lineup.
Joe DiBenedetto replaced Prendergast and with Ramirez on second, the freshman allowed four more runs to score in that inning.
The Pirates were eventually bailed out by junior Dan Ditusa, who finished the final 2.2 innings allowing only two more runs.
Seton Hall clawed back into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning but not with great hitting.
Two of the runs scored in that inning came on walks with the bases loaded.
With one more chance to come back in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates stranded the bases loaded and lost by a score of 9-8.
After the game, Sheppard declined to comment on the team's performance. The win brings St. Peter's to 4-12 on the season.
Seton Hall returns to Owen T. Carroll Field on Friday when they take on Fairleigh Dickinson at 4:15 p.m.
Gerard Gilberto can be reached at gerard.gilberto@student.shu.edu.
