The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team plays the University of Cal San Diego at 4:00 Friday in an elimination match at the Division II Baseball Championships in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Log onto STACAthletics.com Friday for extensive coverage of the Spartans, including Live Stats, Live Broadcast Video & Audio. Also join the "Voice of the Spartans", Brad Sarno on Twitter for Spartans Game Day Live, as he covers all the action via social media, LIVE from Grand Prairie, Texas.
Click Here for NCAA Division II Championship Bracket
Click Here for Championship Central
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In a Nutshell - The path ahead is clear now for the Spartans. They are one of just three teams remaining vying for a National Championship. One loss, and their season concludes. They need to defeat UCSD on Friday, then defeat unbeaten West Chester University twice on Saturday to claim the title. Saturday's action starts at 4:00, with the "if necessary" game to follow.
St. Thomas Aquinas - The Spartans' six-game winning streak - all at the 2017 NCAA Tournament - came to a hard landing with yesterday's 10-0 loss to UCSD, STAC's first setback since May 12. On the positive side, since the 2013 season, STAC has posted an impressive 14-6 record in post-season games when facing elimination. They will likely hand the ball to East Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year Frankie Moscatallo, who worked the opener against UCSD six days ago, allowing three runs in seven strong frames and taking a no-decision in STAC's 6-5, 12-inning victory.
Cal San Diego - The Tritons have been an inspirational story this week, not only winning three straight elimination games, but scoring 10 or more runs in each. Leadoff hitter Jack Larsen has been the impressive catalyst in UCSD's attack, as he has recorded seven hits in the two meetings against St. Thomas Aquinas. The Tritons will likely turn the ball over to ace Troy Cruz, who also started last Saturday's match-up and allowed three hits in seven innings, taking a no-decision.
2017 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship
hosted by Angelo State University
Airhogs Stadium - Grand Prairie, Texas
May 27- June 3, 2017
= Regional Champions =
Atlantic - West Chester (PA) (43-11)
East - St. Thomas Aquinas (44-16) (1 Loss)
West - Cal San Diego (43-18) (1 Loss)
South Central - Colorado Mesa (50-12)
South - Delta State (MS) (45-13)
Central - Lindenwood (MO) (40-20)
Southeast - North Georgia (46-12)
Midwest - Quincy (IL) (37-23)
Saturday, May 27
Game 1 - West Chester 9, North Georgia, 4
Game 2 - Lindenwood 4, Delta State, 0
Sunday, May 28
Game 3 - St. Thomas Aquinas 6, UC San Diego 5 (12 innings)
Game 4 - Colorado Mesa 10, Quincy 3
Monday, May 29
Game 5 - Delta State 4, North Georgia 0 (N. Georgia eliminated)
Game 6 - West Chester 5, Lindenwood 2
Tuesday, May 30
Game 7 - UC San Diego 10, Quincy 8 (Quincy eliminated)
Game 8 - St. Thomas Aquinas 3, Colorado Mesa 2 (10 innings)
Wednesday, May 31 (crossover)
Game 9 - UC San Diego 11, Lindenwood 6 (Lindenwood eliminated)
Game 10 - Colorado Mesa 6, Delta State 2 (Delta State eliminated)
Thursday, June 1
Game 11 - UC San Diego (1L) 10, St. Thomas Aquinas (1L) 0
Game 12 - West Chester 1, Colorado Mesa 0 (Colorado Mesa eliminated)
Friday, June 2
Game 13 - UC San Diego vs. St. Thomas Aquinas - 4:00pm (Loser eliminated)
Saturday, June 3
Game 14 - West Chester (0L) vs Winner Game 13 (1L), 4:00 pm
Game 15 - Rematch, if necessary