The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team split its doubleheader in Cary, North Carolina on Monday, as STAC suffered a 6-3 setback against Franklin Pierce University, before picking up a come behind 6-5 victory over Fairmont State University.

Andrew Jemison and Anthony Maisano led the Spartans in the twin bill. Jemison registered 4 hits in 8 at-bats, with a walk and 2 runs scored, while Anthony Maisano went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a walk. 

Angelo Baez was tabbed with the loss (2-1) in STAC's first game of the day. Baez gave up two hits, three walks, and four runs, one earned, in 6.0 innings on the mound.

Justin Baeyens was credited with his first win of the season in Game 2. Baeyens allowed one hit and struck out two over two innings, after coming on in relief in the sixth. John Greeley and James Reilly shut the door on Fairmont State, with Reilly picking up his second save of the campaign, pitching two solid innings, while allowing only two hits and striking out three.

St. Thomas Aquinas College (5-6) takes to the field at the USA Baseball Training Complex for another doubleheader on Tuesday, March 10th. STAC will take on Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 11am, then Franklin Pierce University at 2:30pm.

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES (GAME 1): 

• Franklin Pierce would get out to a 4-0 lead, with 2 runs in the fourth and 2 in the fifth.
• James Boria would pick up a bases loaded single through the left side off of STAC starter Anfelo Baez, scoring former Spartan Tyler Patane to make it 1-0 Ravens. A Jonel Ozuna sacrifice fly to center field to plate Charles Lebron to increase the lead to 2-0.
• In the very next inning, Charles Lebron would pick up a 2 RBI double to left-center field, scoring Joel Lara and Patane to double the score at 4-0.
• The Spartans would strike for 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth, when first Anthony Maisano would double to center field, scoring Andrew Jemison, followed by Maisano coming around to score via a Brian Donnelly ground ball double play to cut the lead in half, 4-2.
• FPU picked up two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, as Jonel Ozuna would homer to right-center field and then Dylan Jones would fly out to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Graham Smith to push the lead to 6-2.
• STAC would attempt a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, as James Versage would single up the middle, scoring Matthew Johnson with two out to make it 6-3. However, after a mound visit by the Raven coaching staff, Kyle Lagrutta would ground out to third base to end the game.

HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES (GAME 2): 

• Fairmont State took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning on a Zach Musgrove home run with two out. 
• The Falcons would increase their lead to 5-0, with 2 runs in the fourth and 2 in the fifth.
• First, a Jarod Jones base knock, helped by a STAC error, would score PJ Lanham to make it 2-0. Jacob Goodnight would then hit a double to score Jones and extend the lead to 3-0. 
• In the very next inning, Chris Green would pick up a 2 RBI double, plating PJ Lanham and Spencer Delawder to push the Fairmont State lead to 5-0.
• St. Thomas Aquinas would start their rally in the bottom of the fifth with a bases loaded walk to Anthony Maisano, scoring Andrew Guerra, followed by a 2 RBI single by Brian Donnelly to score Andrew Jemison and Michael D'Andrea to cut the lead to 5-3.
• Andrew Guerra would drive home Nicholas Cinquanto via an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-4.
• The Spartan comeback would be complete in the bottom of the seventh, as Peter Schimmel would play the hero and stroke a one out double, scoring both Anthony Maisano and Brian Donnelly to give STAC the 6-5 lead, and ultimately the victory.