Kaitlin Hoffner twirled a two-hit shutout and Kelcy McGeehan homered twice to lead the St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team to a sweep of an East Coast Conference doubleheader Saturday over host University of Bridgeport by the scores of 4-0 and 9-4. The victories by STAC tied the college's 35-year, single-season record for wins at 24.

The Spartans are now 24-17 overall and 14-8 in the ECC, while Bridgeport fell to 28-14 and 13-9 in the conference. The Spartans can clinch second place with one win in their doubleheader Sunday against NYIT. Tomorrow's twin bill in Old Westbury, N.Y. begins at 12:30 p.m.

The big story of this important day for the Spartans was Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.), a sophomore right hander. Replacing injured starter Adrianna Dilal (Rochester, N.Y.), Hoffner was outstanding in her first collegiate start. She enticed 15 ground ball outs, struck out four batters and outdueled Bridgeport ace Amanda Staheli, who lost for just the fifth time in 20 decisions.

St. Thomas Aquinas got off to a quick start in the first inning on Ashley Landolina's (Tolland, Ct.) single to center field to score teammate Briana Keaveney (New City, N.Y.), who had drawn a leadoff walk. In the third inning, Keaveney tripled to deep center field, before Landolina drilled another RBI single and McGeehan (Bayville, N.J.) homered over the left field fence.

The Spartans needed to come from behind to win the second game. McGeehan's homer had evened the score at 1-1 before Bridgeport's Jenna DiLorenzo slugged a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Trailing 4-3 in the sixth inning, STAC took the lead after their first two batters were retired. Amanda Leone (Milford, Ct.) walked and Valerie Winalski (East Granby, Ct.) singled to set up Alyssa Chelak's (Poughquag, N.Y.) clutch two-run double down the left field line. Taylor Sullivan (Suffern, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single.

Landolina's team-leading seventh homer and McGeehan's run-producing double helped add to STASC;'s lead later in the game.

Senior Colleen Borum (Mountain Top, Pa.) increased her record to 12-7 with another solid effort. Leone (catcher) and McGeehan (third base) starred defensively.

"Kaitlin kept the Purple Knights off stride all game and turned in a very impressive effort," said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. "Bridgeport is a very strong team and our players responded with an all-around effort today. We pitched well, hit in the clutch and played very strong defense."