The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team split an East Coast Conference double-header at Dowling College, winning the opener, 5-1 in 10 innings, before dropping game two by an 8-4 count. The Spartans remain in first place in the ECC standings with a 10-5 mark, 27-10 overall, with Dowling now at 16-18, 9-6.

Michael Morgan's RBI single in the top of the fifth brought in an unearned run, and Dowling's Tim Going tied the score with a run-scoring single in the home sixth - other than that, the first game belonged to the starters.

John Parisi allowed just the one unearned run through 5.2 innings but the story belonged to Spartans starter Anthony Morris. The right-hander was back on top of his game, scattering one run on four hits until the STAC offense got in gear in the top of the 10th.

One out after Greg Dawber's leadoff single, Brandon Fischer found the gap with an RBI double to put STAC back on top. Deven Del Priore followed with a run-scoring single, and John DeAngelis came through to drive in two more insurance runs with a two-out single. Despite allowing a double in the bottom half, Morris was able to finish what he started, improving to 4-3 overall, allowing just five hits without a walk in the 10-inning complete game.

STAC carried that momentum into the nightcap, with Rich Cesca, Jr.'s bases-clearing double and an ensuing single by DeAngelis staked the Spartans to a 4-0 first inning lead. That would not hold, however, as Dowling scored in each of its first five innings to rally for the victory.

Mike Richter's second-inning homer helped spark the comeback, and Robert Morse capped a two-run rally in the third by scoring on a wild pitch, giving the Golden Lions the lead for good. Dennis Buckstein settled down after a shaky first to go the distance and earn the win, with Frankie Moscatiello taking the loss in relief.

The Spartans lead the series by a 2-1 count and will try to take the set in the series finale on Sunday, April 24, in a 1:00 pm start at Provident Bank Park.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden