Adrianna Dilal threw a no-hitter and Colleen Borum threw a one-hitter to help the St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team sweep the visiting Molloy College Lions, and clinch its first East Coast Conference playoff berth since 2006. STAC won by the scores of 8-0 (six innings) and 3-0.
The Spartans earned only the program's second Division II post-season bid since joining the NCAA in 2001. The win pushed STAC's overall record to 22-15 and 12-6 in the ECC while Molloy dropped to 16-29 and 6-12 in the conference.
"This is a very rewarding moment for the program," said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. "This team is led by eight seniors who have helped build this program back to respectability. I am so proud of the way these women have performed this year, They are peaking at the right time."
It was a memorable outing by Dilal (Rochester, N.Y.), who registered the college's first no-hitter since Jessica Gogatz in 2007. It is the 13th no-hitter in the 35-year history of the program. The junior also homered over the right field fence. Shortstop Ashley Landolina (Tolland, Ct.) and left fielder Briana Keaveney (New City, N.Y.) excelled defensively.
Melissa Sadler (Milton, N.Y.) and Amanda Leone (Milford, Ct.) drove in the other runs for STAC.
Borum (Mountain Top, Pa.) also threw a gem of her own. The senior right-hander allowed only a single to left field in the fourth inning on the way to her 11th win, matching her career high. She struck out four and did not walk a batter.
"Adrianna and Colleen were both outstanding," said Sullivan. "They consistently worked ahead of the batters and we played very strong defense behind them."
Keaveney, Kelcy McGeehan (Bayville, N.J.) and Alyssa Chelak (Poughquag, N.Y.) led the offensive attack. Keaveney had three hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases while McGeehan drove in three runs with a pair of hits. Chelak had two hits, two RBI and played well defensively in right field.
STAC next hosts Mercy College on Thursday in an East Coast Conference doubleheader at Spartan Field that starts at 2:30 p.m.