The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team fell in its season opener against Stonehill College, 7-1, at Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida. Stanley Susana had three hits for the Spartans, who finally got to start the 2014 season after a series of postponements. Stonehill improved to 4-2 with the win.

Stonehill broke on top against Spartan starter Rob Naughton with single runs in the first and third innings, both scored with two out. Those would be the only runs, on two hits, that Naughton would allow in his four innings of work.

STAC's offense struggled early and did not mount a serious threat until loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the 6th, but Stonehill would work out of the jam without allowing a run before scoring a decisive three runs against reliever John Bednarik in the bottom half to build a 5-0 cushion.

Susana got his team on the board for the first time this season with an RBI double in the 7th, plating Omar Cuevas, but the Spartans would again strand the bases loaded to end the threat. Stonehill added a pair in the bottom of the 7th to account for the final score.

The Spartans Florida trip continues on Sunday, March 9, when they take on Bentley University in the first of three straight games over the next three days. The remainder of the trip will be played at Rollins College.