Uniondale, N.Y. - A late-inning rally by the top-seeds D'Youville University, dropped the curtain on the 2024 season for the St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team on Friday evening, as the Spartans suffered an 11-5 defeat and were subsequently eliminated from the ECC Tournament at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Long Island.

STAC concludes its campaign with a 24-27 overall record and a 14-10 ECC mark, while D'Youville improves to 31-19 and will face #2 Molloy University in the championship round of the conference baseball tourney on Saturday. The host Lions will only have to win once to clinch its third crown in the last four seasons, while the Saints will have to run the table and win two contests in order to clinch its first-ever title.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Top 3rd Inning - C.J. Cumbo doubled down the right field line, scoring both David Potenza and Billy Minett. 2-0 STAC

Btm 3rd Inning - Billy Morris singled to left field, moving Jake Hollins to second base, while scoring Dillon Crook. 2-1 STAC

Top 4th Inning - David Potenza walked with the bases loaded, as Billy Minett advanced to second base, Nick Oelcher advanced to third base and Gregory DiGiaro scored. 3-1 STAC

Btm 4th Inning - Jon Simpson flied out to center field on a sacrifice fly, bringing Jeremy Glinski to the plate. 3-2 STAC

Top 6th Inning - Billy Minett, Billy advanced to second base on a passed ball, while Nick Oelcher scored on the passed ball. 4-2 STAC

Btm 6th Inning - Ethan Hammon walked with the bases loaded, as Craig Oliver advanced to second base, Alex Dzimian advanced to third base and Jeremy Glinski scored. 4-3 STAC

Btm 6th Inning - Ethan Hammon advanced to second base on a wild pitch, with Craig Oliver advancing to third base on the wild pitch and Alex Dzimian scoring on the wild pitch. GAME TIED 4-4

Top 7th Inning - Billy Minett singled up the middle, advancing Nick Oelcher to second base and scoring Gregory DiGiaro. 5-4 STAC

Btm 7th Inning - Alec Boucher singled to third base, advanced to second base and then third base on a throwing error by the third baseman, as Billy Morris advanced to third base and then scored and unearned run on the error. GAME TIED 5-5

Btm 7th Inning - Alex Dzimian reached first base on a throwing error by the second baseman and then advanced to second base, as Alec Boucher scored an unearned run. 6-5 DYU

Btm 8th Inning - Alec Boucher doubled down the left field line, scoring Billy Morris, Jake Hollins and Ethan Hammon. 9-5 DYU

Btm 8th Inning - Alex Dzimian reached first base on a throwing error by the pitcher and then advanced all the way to third base, as Jeremy Glinski and Alec Boucher both scored unearned runs. 11-5 DYU

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Nick Oelcher went 3-for-5 on the evening, with a double and a run scored.
• STAC also received a multi-hit games from C.J. Cumbo, who went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI, while Billy Minett was a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. He was also walked twice.
• Gregory DiGiaro (1-for-4, 2 Runs, BB) and David Potenza (1-for-2, RBI, Run, 2 BBs also added to the hit totals for the Spartans.
• Andrew Schoelles got the start for STAC in the elimination game and hurled five solid innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out one. Schoelles was charged with a no-decision.
• John Dezago got the first two outs in the sixth inning, while giving up a hit and run, while walking two and fanning one.
• Kyle Rogers went the rest of the way for the Spartans and allowed seven runs (three earned) on three hits, while walking five and K'ing three over two and a third innings. Rogers closes out his freshman season by taking the loss and goes to 0-3.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans totaled 5 runs on 9 hits, with 3 errors, while D'Youville earned 11 runs on 9 hits, with no errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out 5 Saints batters, while issuing 10 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 11 runners on base, as D'Youville left 9 on in the conference tourney contest.