Lincoln, Pa. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team posted a 12-run eighth inning en route to another comeback victory, this time by the score of 16-10 over Lincoln University, to open a three-game ECC weekend series on Friday.

STAC improves to 17-21 overall and 9-7 in conference play, while Lincoln falls to 5-32, 1-15.

How it Happened

• Lincoln open the game scoring three times in the first inning, via a pair of RBI singles and an sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
• The visiting Spartans put up runs in back-to-back innings in the fourth and fifth, as an Andrew Guerra RBI single up the middle, scored Kyle Lagrutta and and Andrew Jemison RBI single to left field brought David Potenza home to cut the deficit to 3-2.
• An RBI double to left field in the fifth and an RBI single up the middle in the sixth plated two runs for the host Lions to extend their lead to 5-2.
• In the seventh, STAC got back within one on and Andrew Jemison RBI triple to center field, scoring David Potenza again and a Christopher Conti sac-fly to left, then brought Jemison in to score to make it a 5-4 game.
• Lincoln got one back in the bottom of the frame on a home run to center field, making it 6-4.
• St. Thomas Aquinas would put up a 12-spot in the eighth courtesy of a fielder's choice (Jemison), combined with a throwing error, a fielding error (Conti), a pair of bases loaded walks (Johnson & Lagrutta), a sacrifice flyout to left field (Di Marzo), a double to right-center field (Guerra), a three-run homer (Volpi), and three more bases loaded walks (Conti, Johnson & Di Marzo). STAC took a commanding 16-6 advantage through seven and a half innings.
• The Lions would attempt a comeback in the ninth, scoring four times in the frame on a bases loaded walk an RBI ground out, a wild pitch and another RBI ground out to bring the hosts with six at 16-10.
• However, the STAC bullpen would right the ship and end the game, taking the first matchup of the weekend.

Top STAC Performances

• Andrew Jemison recorded two hits in four at-bats, with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. He was also walked once.
• Eric Volpi blasted a three-run home run, his only hit in four tries. 
• Andrew Guerra (2-for-6), posted a double, two RBI and a run scored on the afternoon.
• David Potenza (2-for-4) with four runs scored.
• Aaron Dona got the start for STAC, pitching 5.1 innings and picking up the no-decision. Dona gave up eight hits and five runs, while walking four and striking out seven.
• Yanni Orfanidis, Jaden Jorgenson and Jack Wilde combined to hurl 3.2 innings out of the bullpen and allowed four hits and five runs, while walking three and fanning five. 
• Orfanidis is credited with the win (4-0), as he threw 2.2 solid innings, only giving up three hits and a run, while K'ing four Lions hitters.

Up Next

The three-game conference series continues in the Keystone State, as the Spartans and Lions will play two on Saturday (April 30), with first pitch of game one scheduled for Noon.