Uniondale, N.Y. - Andrew Alameda's outstanding performance on the mound Thursday afternoon, helped lead the No. 4-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team to a 7-3 victory over top-seeded D'Youville University to open the 2024 East Coast Conference Tournament at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex on Long Island.

STAC improves to 24-25 on the season, and will face the host team and No. 2 seed, Molloy University (37-12) on Friday, May 10. Meanwhile, D'Youville slips to 29-19 and will take on No. 3 Queens College (30-18) in an elimination game, also on Friday. The Lions defeated the Knights 4-3 in Thursday's other first round contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Btm 1st Inning - Billy Morris reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the second baseman, as Jake Hollins is called out at second base via a throw by the third baseman to the second baseman. Meanwhile, Alex Dzimian scored on the play. 1-0 DYU

Top 3rd Inning - Kyle DeCresce singled to right field, with Sean Lynch advancing to second base and Joseph Scamardella scoring. GAME TIED 1-1

Top 3rd Inning - Chris Ewing singled through the left side, as Kyle DeCresce advanced to second base and Sean Lynch scored. 2-1 STAC

Top 3rd Inning - Gregory DiGiaro doubled to left field, with Chris Ewing advancing to third base and Kyle DeCresce coming to the plate. 3-1 STAC

Top 3rd Inning - Nick Oelcher singled through the right side, as Gregory DiGiaro advanced to third base and Chris Ewing scored. 4-1 STAC

Top 3rd Inning - Billy Minett flied out to right field on a sacrifice fly, with Nick Oelcher advancing to second base and then third base on an error by the first baseman and then scored and unearned run on another error, this one by the left fielder. Gregory DiGiaro also scored. 6-1 STAC

Btm 4th Inning - Alec Boucher homered to right field. 6-2 STAC

Top 7th Inning - Kyle DeCresce singled through the left side, with Sean Lynch scoring. 7-2 STAC

Btm 9th Inning - Jake Hollins hit by pitch with the bases loaded, moving Alex Dzimian to second base, Craig Oliver to third base and brining Hunter Nowak to the plate. 7-3 STAC

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Sean Lynch went 3-for-5 on the day, with a triple, and scored twice. 
• STAC also received a multi-hit games from Kyle DeCresce, who had two hits in five at-bats, with two RBI and a run scored, and Joseph Scamardella, who went 2-for-5, while scoring a run.
• Gregory DiGiaro (1-for-4, 2B, RBI, Run), Billy Minett (1-for-3, 2B, RBI), Chris Ewing (1-for-4, RBI, Run, BB), Nick Oelcher (1-for-4, RBI, Run, BB) and C.J. Cumbo (1-for-3, BB) also added to the hit totals for the Spartans.
• Andrew Alameda got the start for STAC in the playoff opener and hurled eight and a third superb innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out two. Alameda earned the postseason victory and moved to 6-4 on the year.
• John Dezago was called upon to get the final out game for the maroon and gold in the ninth inning, and did just that to secure things for the Spartans.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans totaled 7 runs on 12 hits, with 1 error, while D'Youville earned 3 runs on 7 hits, with 2 errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out 2 Saints batters, while issuing 3 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 9 runners on base, as D'Youville left 9 on in the conference tournament contest.

UP NEXT:

STAC faces off with Molloy University on Friday afternoon (weather permitting) at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex. First pitch between the Spartans and Lion is set for 2:00 p.m. in Uniondale, New York.

ECC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

Thursday, May 9 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - Uniondale, N.Y.
Game 1 - No. 3 Queens 3 vs. No. 2 Molloy 4
Game 2 - No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas 7 vs. No. 1 D'Youville 3

Friday, May 10 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - Uniondale, N.Y.
Game 3 - 11:00 a.m. - No. 3 Queens vs. No. 1 D'Youville
Game 4 - 2:00 p.m. - No. 2 Molloy vs. No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas
Game 5 - 5:00 p.m. - Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4

Saturday, May 11 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - Uniondale, N.Y.
Game 6 - 12:00 p.m. - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7 (If necessary) - Game 6 Participants (If winner of Game 5 wins Game 6)
Game would begin 30 minutes after completion of Game 6