Missy Sadler’s two-run double and Carissa Della Vecchia’s pitching helped St. Thomas Aquinas College earn a 7-1 win over the University of Bridgeport today in the first game of an East Coast Conference doubleheader at Spartans Field in Sparkill. Bridgeport won the second game, 3-1.

The split helped the Spartans maintain first place in the ECC with a 12-2 record while Bridgeport fell to 12-3. STAC, which is 18-4 overall, is currently under consideration for an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II East Region tournament. The conference champs of the ECC, Northeast-10 and Central Athletic College Conference are awarded automatic bids to the regionals and three at-large bids are awarded to fill the six-team field.

STAC erased a 1-0 deficit with a three-run rally in the third inning. Rudae Gadson’s single to center scored the trying run. Sadler’s long double off the right field wall highlighted the four-run surge in the sixth inning to secure the win. Della Vecchia walked only one batter to record her eighth win in nine decisions. Shortstop Nikki MacDonald played well in the field and second basemen Amanda Castro threw out a key runner at home plate. Sarah Williams added a key double. 

Paige Toothaker pitched well in the second game and Sadler made a great throw from center field to cut down a run. 

St. Thomas Aquinas travels to Mercy College on Saturday, April 24 for an ECC doubleheader that begins at 1pm.