Flushing, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team opened a four-game East Coast Conference series on Friday afternoon against Queens College, with the host Knights scratching across the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning and then picking up the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh inning to take a 4-3 decision from the Spartans.

STAC slips to 15-20 overall and 6-6 in ECC play, while Queens improves to 21-14 and 11-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Btm 1st Inning - Jorsixt Jimenez doubled down the left field line, as Robert Jacobsen scored. 1-0 QC

Top 2nd Inning - David Potenza grounded out to the shortstop, sending Kyle DeCresce to the plate. GAME TIED 1-1

Top 3rd Inning - C.J. Cumbo homered to left field, also scoring Nick Oelcher. 3-1 STAC

Btm 4th Inning - Phil Krpata singled to right-centerfield, advancing Thomas Napolitano Jr to second base, while Michael Vilardi came home. 3-2 STAC

Btm 8th Inning - Michael Vilardi singled to right-centerfield and advanced to second base on the throw, as Anthony Ippoliti scored. GAME TIED 3-3

Btm 11th Inning - Joey Patane singled through the right side, moving Marc Cisco to second base, Jorsixt Jimenez to third base and bringing Phil Krpata to the plate with the winning run. 4-3 QC

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• C.J. Cumbo went 3-for-5, smacking two-run homer, while driving in two and scoring once on the afternoon.
• Kyle DeCresce was the other Spartan to record a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4, with a run scored.
• STAC also received a hits from Nick Oelcher (1-for-4, 2B, Run)
• Andrew Alameda got the start for STAC in the series opener on Friday and pitched 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking four and fanning six. Alameda was charged with a no-decision.
• John Dezago saw time out of the bullpen for the Spartans and threw 3.0 innings in relief, giving up four hits and a run, while walking two and striking out three. Dezago takes the hard-luck defeat for allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning. He moves to 0-1 on the season.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans totaled 3 runs on 6 hits, with 2 errors, while Queens earned 4 runs on 11 hits, with 2 errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out 9 Knights batters, while issuing 6 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 7 runners on base, as Queens left 12 on in the conference contest.

UP NEXT:

The Spartans and Knights get right back at it on Saturday (April 20), only this time at Clover Stadium. Both ECC squads will do battle in a doubleheader, with the first pitch of game one set for 12:00 p.m. in Pomona, New York.