Superb pitching performances by lefthanders Carissa Della Vecchia and Paige Toothaker helped St. Thomas Aquinas College to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Nyack College today in non-conference softball at Spartan Field. STAC won by the scores of 1-0 and 6-1 to hike its record to 6-2.

“Carissa and Paige both excelled today,” said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. “It’s a very positive sign that we are beginning to get consistent pitching. We were able to scratch together a run in the first game to get the win and the offense contributed more in the second game.”

Della Vecchia turned in another sparkling performance to increase her record to 4-0. She allowed just one hit while striking out 16 batters and yielding just one walk. She retired the final 17 batters in a row including striking out five of the last six. STAC pushed across the game’s only run in the fourth inning when Rudae Gadson singled to left field and moved to second base on Sarah Williams’ sacrifice bunt. Pinch-hitter Sinead Albelli came around to score on Nikki MacDonald’s infield single. Gadson finished with two hits.

Toothaker, a senior, struck out four, walked only one and benefitted from good defensive play from teammates Missy Sadler (center field), MacDonald (shortstop) and Gadson (third base).  The Lady Spartans took a quick 5-0 lead on Della Vecchia’s long, first-inning home run and a four-run rally in the second inning. Jackie Castro and Sadler drove in runs in the stanza.

STAC next hosts Caldwell University on Monday in a non-conference doubleheader that begins at 2:30 p.m.