The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team enters the 2024 ECC Tournament, beginning on Thursday at 3 p.m., opening against D'Youville University at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, New York. The double elimination format will continue on Friday and Saturday on Long Island.

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The Spartans (23-25, 14-10 ECC) - STAC enters the weekend as the #4 seed in the tournament and is 8-2 in its last 10 games. The offense is sparked by Sean Lynch, who posted a .323 batting average with 14 doubles, five homers, 30 RBI and 29 runs scored over 44 games played. Joseph Scamardella enters the tournament hitting .275 with ten doubles, one triple, six home runs, 32 RBI and 34 runs scored in 47 contests. Kyle DeCresce (.286, 21 RBI, 12 runs in 42 games) rounds out the Spartans hitters to watch this weekend. On the mound, ECC Second Team All-Conference Selections John Archer (4-5, 4.73 ERA, 64.2 IP, 50 Ks) and Andrew Alameda (5-4, 5.43 ERA, 61.1 IP, 48 Ks), along with fellow starter Andrew Schoelles (4-2, 5.10 ERA, 47.2 IP, 24 Ks) helped lead STAC to the post season for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. Freshman Kyle Rogers (0-2, 4.12 ERA, 19.2 IP, 18 Ks) led a bevy of young arms out of the bullpen and is one of the best closers in the conference, ranking second in the league in saves with ten.

The Saints (29-18, 18-6 ECC) - The newcomers to the ECC Tournament, D'Youville not only secured a spot in the dance in the first year that they were eligible for post season play, but they also earned a share of the regular season title with Molloy University and are the top seeds (by tie-breaker) going into the upcoming festivities. The Western New York squad is 9-1 in its last 10 games, and feature five all-conference selections in its hitting lineup, as Jon Simpson (.287, 13 2B, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 37 Runs), Jeremy Glinski (.333, 15 2B, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 46 Runs, 10 SB), Billy Morris (.325, 10 2B, 33 RBI, 42 Runs), Alec Boucher (.455, 27 RBI, 28 Runs) and Hunter Nowak (.377, 16 RBI, 29 Runs, 9 SB) can all put the ball in play and motor around the bases. On the mound, all-conference pitcher Chris Auclair (4-4, 2.92 ERA, 64.2 IP, 60 Ks), along with Billy Morris (3-2, 4.66 ERA, 58.0 IP, 53 Ks), Mihir Manerikar (5-3, 5.61 ERA, 43.1 IP, 38 Ks) and Alex Dzimian (2-2, 2.59 ERA, 31.1 IP, 26 Ks) gives the Saints a very solid starting rotation. In the later innings, ECC all-conference reliever and saves leader Sam Worthen (2-0, 13 Svs, 2.25 ERA, 32.0 IP, 19 Ks) will be called upon to slam the door shut on the opposition, as he has done for most of the 2024 season.

Season Series (Split 2-2) - The Spartans and Saints played a four-game series at Clover Stadium on April 14-15, with the squads sweeping a doubleheader each day.

April 14 - D'Youville Wins 12-8 & 11-7 

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Gregory DiGiaro smacked three hits in nine at-bats, with a double, a triple and a home run. He also drove in two runs and scored another three. Greg was also walked once.
• Sean Lynch and Chris Ewing each went 3-for-8 in the doubleheader, with Lynch picking up an RBI and two runs scored while Ewing also scored two runs. Both Spartans also earned a walk apiece.
• Kyle DeCresce posted a two-hit day in six tries, and drove in two runs.
• The Spartans also saw hits from Brian Klumpp (1-for-2, 2B, RBI, Run), Nick Oelcher (1-for-3, RBI, Walk), Billy Minett (1-for-4, RBI, Run), Tyler Haydt (1-for-6, 2B, RBI, Run, 3 Walks), David Potenza (1-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, Walk), Joseph Scamardella (1-for-8, Run, 2 Walks) and C.J. Cumbo (1-for-8, HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs, Walk).
• Andrew Alameda got the start in game one of the Sunday twin bill and threw seven innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits, while walking one and fanning three. Alameda was charged with the loss and falls to 4-3 on the year.
• John Dezago and Kyle Rogers were called upon out of the bullpen for the maroon and gold and hurled an inning apiece, with Dezago allowing four runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout and Rogers giving up two runs on two hits, while walking one.
• John Archer took the mound for game two and pitched 6.1 strong innings for the Spartans, allowing four runs on eight hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Archer took a no-decision in the contest
• Andrew Speranza, Jeremiah Vega and Tom O'Neill each saw time in relief of Archer and combined to allow seven runs on seven hits, while walking three and K-ing one. Andrew Speranza got charged with the loss and fell to 0-4 on the year, for surrendering three runs on two hits, while walking one and getting no outs.

April 15 - STAC wins 13-4 & 4-1 

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Nick Oelcher smacked five hits in eight at-bats. He also drove in two runs and scored another two. 
• Kyle DeCresce and Joseph Scamardella each went 4-for-8 with a home run in the doubleheader, with DeCresce recording 4 RBI and a run scored, while Scamardella drove in three runs and scored twice.
• The Spartans also saw multi-hit days from Gregory DiGiaro (2-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 Runs, 2 Walks), Sean Lynch (2-for-7, 2B, 3 Runs, Walk) and C.J. Cumbo (2-for-8, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 Runs).
• Cole Lindquist got the start in game one of the Monday twin bill and threw 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, while walking six and fanning four. Lindquist was charged with a no-decision.
• Bobby LeFevre was summoned from the bullpen for the final 4.2 innings and was stellar for the Spartans, giving up only a walk and mowing down seven Saints hitters. LeFevre earned his second win of the season and moves to 2-2.
• Andrew Schoelles took the mound for game two and hurled a complete game for the maroon and gold, allowing one run on five hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Schoelles goes to 3-2 on the year with the impressive outing.

In the Post Season - STAC holds seven regular-season championships (2008, '12, '13, '16, '17, '18 and '21), and has captured tournament titles in 2013, '14, '15 and '18. The Spartans are in search of their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, have won East Region Championships in 2014 and 2017, and were among the three finalists for the 2017 National Championship.

D'Youville enters post season play for the first time as both an NCAA Division II and East Coast Conference member. 

What's Next? - Three of the four teams that qualified in 2023 - Molloy, Queens and St. Thomas Aquinas - will battle it out with D'Youville for the ECC title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. The tournament, which is a traditional double-elimination format, will be hosted by Molloy University at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, New York. The action starts on Thursday, May 9, and runs through Saturday, May 11. 

The other side of the bracket sees No. 2 Molloy (36-12, 18-6 ECC) play No. 3 Queens (30-17, 16-8 ECC). The two schools played their four-game series to close regular season play, with the sides each winning a pair of games on their own home fields.

Queens, who won the ECC Championship in 2023, will start its quest for back-to-back titles, while Molloy is in search of their third ECC crown in the last four seasons (2022, 2021).

2024 EAST COAST CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

For More Information, visit the ECC Baseball Championship Central

ECC Playoff Schedule

Thursday, May 9 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - Uniondale, N.Y.
Game 1 - 12:00 p.m. - No. 3 Queens vs. No. 2 Molloy
Game 2 - 3:00 p.m. - No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 1 D'Youville

Friday, May 10 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - Uniondale, N.Y.
Game 3 - 10:00 a.m. - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 4 - 1:00 p.m. - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 5 - 4:00 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

TICKET PRICING

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Single Game Ticket
$8 - General Admission - Adult
$5 - General Admission - Child/Senior/Student

Adult Weekend Passes - $20

*Tickets must be purchased at the link above. Cash will not be accepted so walkup tickets at the venue must be purchased through the ECC website (QR code will be available at the gate).

All games will air live on ECC Sports Network. Match results, recaps, and photos will be posted throughout the day on ECC social media platforms. Be sure to follow the ECC on X, Instagram, and Facebook.