Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team inched closer to a possible East Coast Conference Tournament bid on Saturday afternoon by sweeping a road doubleheader from Mercy University, 9-5 and 6-4 over in Westchester County.
STAC improves to 18-24 overall and 9-10 in ECC play, while Mercy slips to 19-25 and 9-10. Both squads are now tied in the standings for the final playoff spot, with one game to play in their season series (Sunday) and five total conference games remaining in the regular season for each.
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:
Top 2nd Inning - David Potenza advanced to second base on a wild pitch and Brian Klumpp advanced to third base on the wild pitch and Gregory DiGiaro scored on the wild pitch. 1-0 STAC
Top 3rd Inning - Gregory DiGiaro doubled down the left field line, scoring Sean Lynch. 2-0 STAC
Top 4th Inning - Joseph Scamardella singled to first base as C.J. Cumbo advanced to second base and David Potenza came to the plate. 3-0 STAC
Top 6th Inning - K. DeCresce flied out to centerfield on a sacrifice fly, bringing home Joseph Scamardella. 4-0 STAC
Top 7th Inning - Nick Oelcher advanced to second base on a balk, with David Potenza advancing to third base on the balk and Gregory DiGiaro scoring on the balk. 5-0 STAC
Top 7th Inning - C.J. Cumbo singled to centerfield, as Nick Oelcher advanced to third base and David Potenza scored. 6-0 STAC
Top 7th Inning - C.J. Cumbo advanced to third on a wild pitch with Nick Oelcher making his way to the plate on the wild pitch. 7-0 STAC
Btm 7th Inning - John Nisco with a ground-rule double to left field, brought home Zach Ashline 7-1 STAC
Top 8th Inning - David Potenza was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, advancing Brian Klumpp to second base, Gregory DiGiaro to third base and bringing Chris Ewing to the plate. 8-1 STAC
Top 8th Inning - Nick Oelcher flied out to centerfield on a sacrifice fly, scoring Gregory DiGiaro. 9-1 STAC
Btm 8th Inning - Nevin Scaperotti singled down the right field line, with Jaden Caballero advancing to third base and Janiel Ramirez scoring. 9-2 STAC
Btm 8th Inning - Nolan Giblin singled through the left side, moving Nevin Scaperotti to second base and sending Jaden Caballero home. 9-3 STAC
Btm 8th Inning - Zach Ashline singled to right field, advancing Nolan Giblin to third base and scoring Nevin Scaperotti. 9-4 STAC
Btm 8th Inning - Alfred Hoti flied out to centerfield on a sacrifice fly, bringing Nolan Giblin to the plate. 9-5 STAC
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:
Top 2nd Inning - David Potenza singled to left field, and advanced to second base on the throw and Brian Klumpp advanced to third base and Gregory DiGiaro scored. 1-0 STAC
Top 2nd Inning - David Potenza moved to third base on a wild pitch, while Brian Klumpp came to the plate on the wild pitch. 2-0 STAC
Btm 2nd Inning - John Nisco singled to centerfield, with Alfred Hoti advancing to second base and Zach Ashline scoring. 2-1 STAC
Top 3rd Inning - Sean Lynch doubled to left field, as Joseph Scamardella scored. 3-1 STAC
Btm 3rd Inning - Zach Ashline reached on a fielder's choice to third base, as Nolan Giblin was called out at second base via a throw from the third baseman to the second baseman, while Jaden Caballero made his way home. 3-2 STAC
Top 4th Inning - David Potenza flied out to right field on a sacrifice fly, allowing Gregory DiGiaro to score. 4-2 STAC
Btm 4th Inning - Janiel Ramirez singled to centerfield, scoring both Joseph Gonzalez and John Nisco and tying the game. GAME TIED 4-4
Top 6th Inning - David Potenza singled to centerfield, as Brian Klumpp was called out at second base via a relay throw from the center fielder to the catcher to the third baseman, while Gregory DiGiaro scored to break the tie. 5-4 STAC
Top 7th Inning - Joseph Scamardella singled to centerfield, bringing Nick Oelcher to the plate with an insurance run. 6-4 STAC
STAC PERFORMANCES:
- David Potenza went a perfect 4-for-4 on the day, also driving in four runs and scoring twice in the doubleheader.
- Joseph Scamardella picked up four hit in nine at-bats, including a double. He also recorded 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, while also being walked once.
- The Spartans also saw multi-hit days from Gregory DiGiaro (3-for-4, 2-2B, RBI, 6 Runs, 3 BB), Sean Lynch (3-for-7, 2-2B, RBI, Run, BB) and Brian Klumpp (2-for-6, Run)
- John Archer got the start in game one of Saturday's twin bill and threw 7.1 innings, allowing five runs on 1o hits, while fanning four. Archer (3-5) earned his third win of the campaign in eight decisions
- Tom O'Neill was summoned from the bullpen for the final 1.2 innings for the Spartans, and he allowed just one hit, while striking out one.
- Andrew Schoelles took the mound for game two and gave up four runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings of work, while walking one and K-ing one. Schoelles was charged with a no-decision.
- Relievers John Dezago and Kyle Rogers came on in relief for the final 3.2 innings and combined to allow just four hits and three walks. Dezago (1-1) garnered his first win of the year with 2.2 innings of shutout pitching, while giving up three hits and three walks. Rogers picked up this ninth save of the season for an almost perfect seventh inning, as he allowed a single hit to close the door on the Mavericks.
FACTS & FIGURES:
- The Spartans totaled 15 runs on 20 hits, with no errors, while Mercy earned 9 runs on 22 hits, with no errors in the twin bill.
- STAC pitchers struck out 6 Mavericks batters, while issuing 4 walks on the day.
- St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 15 runners on base, while Mercy left 16 in the doubleheader.
UP NEXT:
STAC looks to continue its push to the ECC playoffs, hosting Mercy University in the finale of their four-game series on Sunday, April 28 at Clover Stadium. First pitch between the Mavericks and Spartans is set for 12:00 p.m. with Senior Day ceremonies preceding the contest.