The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team pulled away late to open the 2017 season with a 10-0 victory over Philadelphia University in Dinwiddie, VA. Anthony Morris was the starter and one of five Spartan hurlers to combine on the shutout in the first game of the campaign for both squads.

Morris locked up with Rams starter Abraham Almonte as the game was scoreless heading into the home fifth, when Giovanni Dincong plated the season's first run with a one-out homer. One inning later, Bobby Morse delivered a bases-loaded double, bringing in Joey Pena and Greg Dawber to put the Spartans up by three.

Ryan Coulon delivered insurance with a two-RBI pinch single in the seventh, and STAC blew the affair open with a five-run eighth, with Mike Morgan delivering a two-run homer and Nick Pucciarelli driving two more with a single.

Philadelphia scattered nine hits against the quintet of Spartan pitchers, with Morris allowing seven hits in five innings to earn the win. Chad Sinko, Michael Valdes, Chris Pennell, and Alex Mack followed from the bullpen to preserve the whitewash.

The Spartans are on the first of three road trips that will open the season, with the four-game weekend in Dinwiddie continuing with a pair against Shepherd College on Saturday starting at 3:00 pm. They will then take on Slippery Rock University on Sunday at 1:30 pm before heading home. STAC is slated to play 14 games before their home opener, a twin-bill against St. Anselm College at Palisades Credit Union Park on Saturday, March 18.