Durham, N.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team continued its four-game Tar Heel State road trip on Saturday evening, taking on Mansfield University at Durham Park. Despite receiving a pair of two-run homers from both Sean Lynch and Billy Minett, the Spartans dropped a 5-4 decision to the Mounties.
STAC slips to 4-3 on the season, while Mansfield gets back to the .500 mark at 4-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Top 1st Inning - Sean Lynch two-run homer, also scoring Gregory DiGiaro. 2-0 STAC
Btm 1st Inning - Jacob Houtz singled to left field, with Zachary Shertzer advancing to second base and Ryan Scott scoring. 2-1 STAC
Btm 1st Inning - Cole Serfass reached on an error by the STAC third baseman, with Jacob Houtz advancing to third base and Zachary Shertzer scoring. GAME TIED 2-2
Btm 1st Inning - Ryan Verbonitz flied out to centerfield, as Jacob Houtz came home from third base. 3-2 MANS
Btm 1st Inning - Harold Ivery reached on an error by the STAC third baseman with Cole Serfass scoring an unearned run. 4-2 MANS
Btm 3rd Inning - Shay Gustafson walked with the bases loaded. Jeffrey Coakley advanced to second base, with Harold Ivery advancing to third base and Ryan Verbonitz scoring. 5-2 MANS
Top 4th Inning - Billy Minett two-run homer, also scoring Justin Klayman. 5-4 MANS
STAC PERFORMANCES:
- Billy Minett went 3-for-4 on the day, with a double, a home run, 2 RBI and a run scored.
- Sean Lynch had two hits in four at-bats for the Spartans, including a home run, while driving in two runs and scoring another.
- Joseph Scamardella (1-for-5), David Potenza (1-for-4) and Justin Klayman (1-for-3, Run, Walk) had the other base knocks for the maroon and gold.
- Bobby LeFevre got the start for STAC on Saturday, pitching three innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits, while walking four and striking out three Mounties. batters. LeFevre took the loss and falls to 0-1.
- Jeremiah Vega and Eric Volpi came out of the bullpen for the Spartans and helped keep the game within reach of a rally attempt. The duo combined to hurl five shutout innings, while only allowing a hit and two walks. Vega struck out six and Volpi one.
FACTS & FIGURES:
- The Spartans posted 4 runs on 8 hits, with 2 errors, while Mansfield earned 5 runs on 5 hits, with one error.
- STAC pitchers struck out 10 Mounties batters, while issuing 6 walks on the day.
- St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 7 runners on base. Meanwhile Mansfield left 8 in the contest.
UP NEXT:
STAC closes its North Carolina road trip on Sunday, March 3, taking on Slippery Rock University at Durham Park. First pitch between the Spartans and the Rock is set for 12:30 p.m.