Five-Run 9th Lifts STAC to Walk-Off 8-7 Victory Over Nyack

Five-Run 9th Lifts STAC to Walk-Off 8-7 Victory Over Nyack

The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team rallied to an 8-7 victory over Nyack College in a non-conference game at Provident Bank Park. Stanley Susana's walk-off RBI single capped the comeback as STAC improved to 18-9-1 on the season while dropping Nyack to 7-21.

STAC wasted little time jumping in front, with RBI hits from Giovanni Dingcong and Brandon Fischer keying a three-run first inning. Nyack pushed across a third inning run off Spartan starter Frankie Moscatiello, but the freshman left after five solid innings still holding that 3-1 advantage.

That would change over the next three innings, with the Warriors pushing across three in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one in the eighth off a quinted of STAC relievers to grab a seemingly-comfortable 7-3 lead.

Entering their final at bat with a sizeable deficit, Dingcong reached on a leadoff error to open the door and the Spartans did the rest. John DeAngelis walked and Deven del Priore reached on an infield hit to load the bases with none out.

Rich Baerga cleared the bags with a booming triple to right center, drawing STAC to within 7-6, and Joseph Pena followed with a ground rule double to deep right to tie the game. Nick Gargan advanced the winning run to third with a sacrifice, and Susana stroked the first pitch into left field to bring home the game winner.

John Bednarek earned the unlikely relief win to improve to 3-2 on the season, while Pena, Susana, Dingcong and del Priore each added two hits. The Spartans return to action on Wednesday, April 15, hosting Bloomfield College in a 3:30 pm start at Provident Bank Park.