Pomona, N.Y. - Despite scoring five runs over the final three innings, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team's attempted rally fell short on Friday, dropping the opener of a critical four-game East Coast Conference series with Mercy University, 9-8 at Clover Stadium.
STAC slips to 16-24 overall and 7-10 in ECC play, while Mercy improves to 19-23 and 9-8.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Btm 1st Inning - Chris Ewing singled to left field, as Kyle DeCresce advanced to second base and Sean Lynch scored. 1-0 STAC
Top 5th Inning - Nolan Giblin singled to left-centerfield, as Jaden Caballero made his way to the plate. GAME TIED 1-1
Btm 5th Inning - David Potenza homered to left field. 2-1 STAC
Btm 5th Inning - Kyle DeCresce reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman and advanced to second base, as Joseph Scamardella was called out at second second base unassisted, and C.J. Cumbo scored an unearned run. 3-1 STAC
Top 6th Inning - Joseph Gonzalez singled to right field, moving John Nisco to second base, as Alfred Hoti scored an unearned run. 3-2 STAC
Top 6th Inning - Kolongi Goins doubled down the right field line, advancing Joseph Gonzalez to third base and scoring John Nisco. GAME TIED 3-3
Top 6th Inning - Jaden Caballero doubled to left field, advancing Kolongi Goins to third base, as Joseph Gonzalez made his way home. 4-3 MER
Top 6th Inning - Brandon Nolasco singled to centerfield, moving Jaden Caballero to third base and scoring Kolongi Goins. 5-3 MER
Top 6th Inning - Noah Giblin singled to left field, with Brandon Nolasco advancing to second base and Jaden Caballero scoring. 6-3 MER
Top 6th Inning - Alfred Hoti reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman, as Zach Ashline was called out at second base on a throw from the shortstop to the second baseman. Both Noah Giblin scored and Brandon Nolasco scored on the play. 8-3 MER
Btm 7th Inning - Joseph Scamardella homered to right field. 8-4 MER
Btm 7th Inning - Gregory DiGiaro lined out to left field on a sacrifice fly, scoring Sean Lynch. 8-5 MER
Btm 7th Inning - Nick Oelcher tripled to right-centerfield, allowing Chris Ewing to come to the plate. 8-6 MER
Btm 8th Inning - Joseph Scamardella grounded out to second base, with David Potenza scoring an unearned run. 8-7 MER
Top 9th Inning - Kolongi Goins singled to pitcher, as John Nisco made his way to the plate. 9-7 MER
Btm 9th Inning - Brian Klumpp flied out to left field on a sacrifice fly, bringingn home Ben Moscatiello. 9-8 MER
STAC PERFORMANCES:
- Joseph Scamardella (1-for-4, 2 RBI, Run, Walk) and David Potenza (1-for-4, RBI, Run) clubbed home runs for the Spartans on the day.
- Nick Oelcher put together three hits in four at-bats with a triple and a run batted in.
- Kyle DeCresce (2-for-5) also had a multi-hit game for the maroon and gold.
- STAC also received hits from Sean Lynch (1-for-3, 2 Runs, 2 Walks) and Chris Ewing (1-for-4, RBI, Run, Walk).
- Andrew Alameda got the start for STAC in the series opener on Friday and pitched five innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on ten hits, while walking three and striking out two. Alameda was tagged with the loss and moves to 4-4 on the season.
- Jeremiah Vega and Kyle Rogers came on in relief in the later innings, trying to keep the game in check to allow the Spartans to complete their comeback attempt. The duo gave up four hits and two runs (one earned), while walking two and fanning one over the final four innings.
FACTS & FIGURES:
- The Spartans totaled 8 runs on 9 hits, with 4 errors, while Mercy earned 9 runs on 14 hits, with 4 errors.
- STAC pitchers struck out 3 Mavericks batters, while issuing 5 walks on the day.
- St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 10 runners on base, Mercy left 11 on in the conference contest.
UP NEXT:
The Spartans and Mavericks get right back at it on Saturday (April 27), only this time at Mercy Field. Both ECC squads will do battle in a doubleheader, with the first pitch of game one set for 12:00 p.m. in Dobbs Ferry, New York.