PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - The 25th-ranked Caldwell College baseball team opened the 2009 season with an 8-0 loss at Pace University Thursday afternoon at Finnerty Field. The Cougars begin the year with an 0-1 record, while the Setters improve to 4-4-1.

Caldwell was stymied by Pace starting pitcher Nicholas DeMeo, who allowed four hits and no runs while walking three and fanning four in 6 1/3 innings. The Setters scored a pair of runs in the third inning, single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh, and three more in the eighth. Denis Alimonte went 3-of-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored to lead the offense. Caldwell juniors Juan Pinero (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus) and Miguel Perdomo (Teaneck, NJ/Bergen Catholic) and freshman Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) all recorded their first career hits as Cougars, while juniors Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) and Doug Hilgenberg (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), pictured, doubled in the loss.

Junior left-hander Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) took the loss after yielding four runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Keelan also struck out four batters in defeat. Pace's Steven D'Angelo gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Cougars head to Florida for eight games, beginning with a pair of contests on Saturday, Mar. 14. Caldwell takes on 12th-ranked Franklin Pierce University at 9:00 a.m., followed by a game with Southern Connecticut State at 12:15 p.m. Both games take place at the Santaluces Sportsplex in Lantana, Fla.