PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - After dropping their season opener on Tuesday, the Bears baseball team bounced back with a 3-2 victory in a rematch against Pace University on Thursday at Finnerty Field. Bloomfield (1-1) drove across three runs in the 9th inning to come-from-behind and score their first victory of 2016. The Pacesetters suffered their first setback of the young season and fell to 2-1 overall after the non-conference match up.

Junior Charles Castellano (Bayonne, N.J.) picked up the win on the mound and senior Kyle Murzyn (Glassboro, N.J.) stepped in and collected his first save of the year.

The Pacesetters opened up the scoring in the game during the second inning when their catcher doubled to left-center and brought in a run to put Pace up, 1-0. The home team struck again in the bottom of the third when a single to center scored a run to double their advantage at 2-0. Castellano settled in and kept that score intact until the Bears' response in the top of the ninth.

Sophomore shortstop Juan Reina (Paterson, N.J.) opened the rally in the ninth inning with a single, then first baseman Harry Montero (Millville, N.J.) hit a ground-rule double to left, leaving runners on second and third with nobody out. Stephon Moore (Newark, N.J.) was hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases for the Bears, and then a single by third baseman Luis Hidalgo (Ridgefield, N.J.) brought in the first run of the inning for the visitors. Outfielder Isaac Pichardo (Passaic, N.J.) hit a grounder to third, which turned into a double play, throwing out the runner advancing home, and then Pichardo at first. With two away, Christopher Cabral (Lodi, N.J.) came on to pinch-hit and an error led to two runners scoring that gave Bloomfield a 3-2 lead.

Pace threatened in the bottom half of the inning with Murzyn taking the mound to close out the game. A lead-off single by the first baseman found its' way to right-center. A sacrifice bunt by the Pacesetters' next batter moved the runner into scoring position but Bloomfield retired the lead runner in a run down after a ground ball on the next play to record the second out of the inning. On following play Luke Loughery (Sussex, N.J.), who hit his first homerun in the game against Pace on Tuesday, made an acrobatic diving catch on a tailing line drive to right field, robbing a potential game-tying hit and end the game.

Castellano took over for starter, Steven Acosta (Lakewood, N.J.) and tossed three innings of relief without allowing a hit, striking out two. Hidalgo went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI for the Bears. Montero added a 2-for-3 performance, while Moore hit 1-for-2 from the designated hitter spot.

Next up, Bloomfield will fly south for Spring Break at the Palm Beach Challenge with the first match up against the Skyhawks of Stonehill College on Tuesday, Mar 8.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, from the Bloomfield College athletic department by liking the Bears on Facebook and following the Bears on Twitter or Instagram @GO_BCBears. Use the hashtag #BCBears to join the conversation.