The St. Thomas Aquinas College baseball team prevailed in a 4-2 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in the rubber game of the weekend series at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass. The Spartans, ranked #21 in the nation and #2 in the East in this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, improved to 12-5 while taking two of three from #3 East ranked SNHU, which now stands at 10-7

Tough the series was originally scheduled for Palisades Credit Union Park, unplayable field conditions necessitated the move to Massachusetts, marking the fourth straight extended travel weekend encompassing approximately 3,000 bus miles for the Spartans. Nicholas Lucchese sparked the STAC attack with a homer and a double, and Giovanni Dingcong added a run-scoring double. Jason Salva allowed just two runs in six solid innings to earn the win, and Angelo Baez struck out the side in the 9th to earn his second save in as many days.

Caleb Potter's leadoff homer in the top of the 2nd put the Penmen on top, but STAC jumped on top in the home 3rd when Lucchese and Dingcong recorded back-to-back doubles to tie the game, and Dingcong came around on an error to make the score 2-1. Joshua Zbierski tied the score with a one-out homer in the top of the 5th, but the Spartans answered in the bottom half when, with the bases loaded and one out, Anthony Maisano beat out the relay on a potential inning-ending double-play grounder, scoring Joseph Pena.

Salva gave way after allowing just four hits over his six innings, and Chris Pennell pitched a scoreless 7th before Lucchese's homer provided a big homer in the bottom half. Christian Allegretti registered an out and allowed a walk in the 8th, and Baez quickly enticed an inning ending double-play before retiring SNHU in order in the final frame.

Lucchese went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and Juan Adorno added two hits for St. Thomas Aquinas. Salva improved to 1-0, Baez earned his second save of the season, and Southern New Hampshire's Mitchell Powers was credited with the loss.

The long road journey is slated to end for the Spartans this Wednesday, March 21, when Franklin Pierce University visits Pomona for a 3:30 pm start. STAC then opens the East Coast Conference schedule with a four game weekend series against Queens College; home games Friday (3:30 pm) and Sunday (2:00 pm) wrapped around a noon Saturday twin-bill in Flushing.