final inning but was unable to hold it as Felician College rallied for a 6-5 win. Starter Tim Tedesco worked seven solid innings but took the No Decision for the Spartans. STAC has now dropped two straight, falling to 27-15 overall with the non-conference setback, while Felician improved to 22-20 with the home triumph.

STAC broke on top in the opening inning when Mike Russo's grounder allowed Nick Barbalato to score. Jimmy Simpson's RBI double in the third brought the Golden Falcons even, but the Spartans answered in the next inning on the strength of Derek Hirsch's two-out RBI triple.

Each team would take turns plating solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Joe Antenucci gave the Spartans a 3-1 edge in the top of the fifth, scoring on a Chet Godfrey wild pitch, but Felician answered in like fashion, as Tedesco uncorked a misfire that Gary Lavoie swung at and missed for what would have been the third out, but the wild pitch allowed Lavoie to reach first and scored Jay Collazo to cut the lead back to 3-2.

The Spartans tacked on another in the sixth when Frank Salerno's infield hit scored Andrew Hancsak. Once again, Felician would draw within one when Tedesco's two-out balk brought in Miguel Hidalgo.

George Wargo's sac fly in the top of the ninth gave the visitors a 5-3 edge, but closer Joe DePool was unable to close out the affair. Walks to the first two batters set the table, but DePool would retire the next two batters. Back-to-back singles by Simpson and Mike Farrell would bring in the tying and winning runs, sending the Spartans to defeat.

DePool fell to 1-2 with the loss while Golden Falcon reliever Jerry Vasto picked up his first collegiate win, allowing two runs over the final four innings to improve to 1-2. Seven different players had one hit each for the Spartans, who left 10 runners on base.

Please support STAC's efforts in the Wounded Warrior Project!

The Spartans begin a big nine-day stretch that sees them play seven of their final eight regular season games against East Coast Conference foes. A three-game weekend set against Mercy kicks off with a twin-bill at Provident Bank Park on Saturday, April 28, at 12:00 noon. The series wraps up with a single game at Mercy on Sunday, April 29.

East Coast Conference Standings (thru 4/27/12)

x = clinched ECC Tournament slot     z = eliminated from ECC  tournament contention

Remaining ECC Games

Saturday, April 28

Mercy @ St. Thomas Aquinas (2), 12:00

CW Post @ Molloy (2), 12:00

Bridgeport @ Queens, 12:00

Sunday, April 29

St. Thomas Aquinas @ Mercy, 1:00

Queens @ Bridgeport (2), 1:00

Molloy @ CW Post, 1:00

Wednesday, May 2

St. Thomas Aquinas @ CW Post, 3:00

Dowling @ Queens, 3:30

Mercy @ Bridgeport, 5:00

Friday, May 4

Molloy @ Bridgeport (2), 1:00

Saturday, May 5

St. Thomas Aquinas @ Queens (2), 1:00

CW Post @ Dowling (2), 12:00

Sunday, May 6

Queens @ St. Thomas Aquinas, 1:00 

Bridgeport @ Molloy, 1:00

Dowling @ CW Post, 1:00

- End Regular Season -

Please support STAC's efforts in the Wounded Warrior Project!