Stanley Susana went 3-for-4 and the St. Thomas Aquinas college baseball team utilized a four-run seventh inning to defeat the University of Bridgeport, 8-3, at Provident Bank Park. The non-conference victory is the Spartans sixth straight and 15th-of-19 overall to improve to 17-8 while Bridgeport fell to 3-8. The teams previously met this past Tuesday in an East Coast Conference game at Harbor Hard, won by STAC 13-7.
Both starters were in form early, as St. Thomas Aquinas' Robert Frank and Bridgeport's Andrew Tortolano traded zeroes through three innings. The visitors broke through first with single runs in the fourth and fifth came across unearned, courtesy of a pair of STAC errors.
The Spartans got one back in the fifth when Derek Hirsch was hit by a pitch leading off, stole second, was grounded to third, and scored on a Frank Salerno sac fly. The home team took its first lead of the day in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of reliever Alex Riley. Joe Antenucci came in to tie the game on Matt Marotta's infield hit and a throwing error on second baseman John Ascenzia, and an Andrew Hancsak double deep to right with two down brought in Susana to make it 3-2.
It would not stay that way for long, as the Purple Knights would set the table against Frank and relief pitcher Tim Tedesco, with Eric Schlitter's double to right tying the score. With first and third and one out, Ken Frawley emerged from the pen to put out the fire, stranding two runners in scoring position.
STAC would capitalize in a big way in the bottom half, as Efrain Bautista started the rally with a pinch-hit leadoff double into deep left. Salerno followed with a grounder into the hole at shortstop - Bridgeport's Bernie Polanco's only chance was to try for Bautista advancing to third, but his throw went awry, allowing Salerno to take second. Nick Barbalato put the Spartans ahead for good with a sacrifice fly, and Geroge Wargo's single scored Salerno to make it 5-3. A throwing error by Ascenzia allowed Joe Antenucci to score, and the inning was capped with Wargo's daring straight steal of home off lefty Paul Spadacenta, to put STAC up by four.
The Spartans tacked on insurance in the eighth, as Salerno's single plated Bautista, who went 2-for-2 coming off the bench. Bridgeport would threaten in the ninth, rallying with two out and nobody on off STAC's Jon Scott, as Kyle Ferri's single brought in two unearned runs before the Spartans were able to close the door for good.
Frawley picked up the win in relief to improve to 4-1, while Nicholas Santiago took the loss to stand at 0-1. Matt Ranaudo went 3-for-5 to lead the attack for the Purple Knights, who left 12 runners on base on the afternoon.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THIS WEEKEND'S SCHEDULE:
- Due to impending inclement weather, the double-header scheduled for Saturday, March 31 at Molloy has been postponed.
- The game scheduled for Sunday, April 1 at Provident Bank Park has been moved - it will now be played as a double-header at Molloy, starting at 1:00 pm.
- The postponed game from Sunday between Molloy and STAC will now be played on Monday, April 2 at 3:30 pm at Provident Bank Park.
After this rescheduled weekend, STAC then travels for another conference tilt at Mercy College on Wednesday, April 4, and will be back at PBP for a showdown of East Region powers as LeMoyne College pays a visit on Thursday, April 5, in a 4:00 pm start.
Remember, if you can't make it to the park you can follow the Spartans in real time for every home game and select road contests by clicking on the "Live Stats" link (where available) on the team schedule.