The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team pushed across two runs in the top of the 9th to defeat Barry University, 10-8. Rich Cesca, Jr.'s leadoff homer proved to be the deciding blow as STAC improved to 8-3 overall while dropping the hosts to 16-8. Barry, ranked in the top 25 in the NCBWA national poll earlier this season, fell to the Spartans, who are currently ranked 3rd in the East and Receiving Votes nationally in the same poll.
STAC held a lead until Khalil Denson's two-run two out homer in the home 8th tied the score at 8-8, but Cesca led off the 9th with a deep drive to right-center, putting the Spartans in front to stay.
Deven Del Priore got STAC on the board with a leadoff homer to left in the 2nd. Michael Morgan later singled in East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week Tyler Patane, and Ryan Coulon followed with a sac fly to make the score 3-0.
Barry took advantage of Spartan starter Matt Kostolos' uncharacteristic wildness, as the righty walked a pair of batters and the hosts rallied to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom half.
With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the 4th, Greg Dawber came up with a big three-run double to deep right, but a Frank Gonzalez sac fly in the bottom half drew the Buccaneers to within 6-4. Despite walking four batters in all, Kostolos battled through six innings before departing with the lead.
That lead would not survive the last of the 7th, as an RBI grounder and a wild pitch by reliever Jose Peralta plated the tying runs, making the score 6-6. STAC regained the edge one frame later when, with second and third and one out, Jesse Nakashian's chopper to a drawn-in shortstop was enough to score Jon DeAngelis, who beat the throw home. Joseph Pena's RBI grounder brought in Mike Morgan, and STAC again had a two run lead at 8-6.
St. Thomas Aquinas was four outs from victory when Denson's two-run shot tied the score in the 8th, setting the stage for Cesca's leadoff heroics. The Spartans proceeded to load the bases with nobody out, but would only account for one run on a wild pitch.
Chris Pennell came on for some anxious moments in the final inning, set up by a leadoff infield error, putting Alexander deGoti on second. Ramon Valdez then walked and, after a pair of strikeouts, Jonathan Quintana walked to put the winning runs on base. Pennell would prevail, as Alfreddi Ramos' dying looper to right was tracked down by a rolling DeAngelis to seal the victory.
Scott Hannan grabbed the relief win to improve to 2-0 on the season, with Pennell earning his first save. Del Priore, Patane, DeAngelis, and Morgan recorded two hits each of the 11 overall for STAC.
The Spartans are now 3-0 on their final southern swing, which continues Tuesday evening against Adelphi University in a 6:00 pm start, with the game being played at Barry. The trip concludes with single games Wednesday and Thursday against Southern Connecticut State.
Please Note - Due to unplayable conditions at Provident Bank Park, the scheduled home opening weekend against St. Anselm College on March 19 and 20 will be played at a site to be determined. Please check the schedule for updates.
- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information
- Photo by Dorice Arden