Effective pitching, sound defense and timely hitting was the winning formula for St. Thomas Aquinas College in its 3-0 and 4-1 victories over host Mercy College today in an important East Coast Conference softball doubleheader. 

 

The sweep helps STAC retain first place in the ECC with a 14-2 record, 20-4 overall. Mercy fell to 12-5 in the conference and 13-8 overall. 

 

It was a significant day for the Spartans in a number of ways. The 20th win is just the second time the team has reached that plateau since joining the NCAA in 2001. Pitcher Carissa Della Vecchia also joined the record book. The lefty’s six strikeouts in her shutout win in the first game broke the school record for most strikeouts in a season. Maura Power, who graduated in 2012, held the previous record with 103. Della Vecchia now has 106. 

 

It was Della Vecchia’s fourth shutout of the season and pushed her record to 10-1. She received defensive support from centerfielder Missy Sadler who made a diving catch to stymie a rally in the fifth inning. 

 

Sarah Williams paced the offense with her first collegiate home run and Amanda Castro stroked a key double. 

 

In the second game, the STAC tallied four runs in the first inning and then rode the pitching of Paige Toothaker and outstanding team defense to the win. Amanda Schweitzer’s two-run single was the big hit in the first inning. Schweitzer (catcher), Castro (second base) and Nikki MacDonald (shortstop) all sparkled with their gloves. 

 

“Winning 20 games is also one of our team goals so this is an exciting milestone,” said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. “Our pitching and defense were outstanding today.”

 

STAC next hosts Molloy College on Sunday, April 25 in an ECC twinbill at Spartan Field, that begins at 2 pm.