Rockville Centre, N.Y. - Sophomore Elyse Marcano stroked four hits, while Freshman Jessica Feerick had three hits and five RBI to lead St. Thomas Aquinas College to an 9-8 win over Molloy University today in the second game of an East Coast Conference softball doubleheader at Bob Klein Field. Molloy won the first game, 2-1.

The doubleheader marked the opening of STAC's defense of the ECC title.

In the second game, the Spartans built an 8-0 lead primarily on a five-run rally in the fourth inning. Feerick's two-run single sparked the rally. Elyse Marcano recorded a four-hit game, while teammates Feerick, Natalia Stewart and Eliana Raposo all finished with three hits. Raposo and Sarah Clancy combined to pitch the win and right fielder Aliya Feerick made a terrific diving catch in right field to squash a Molloy rally in the fifth inning.

Clancy pitched well in the first game but was out dueled by Molloy's Sophia Mariottini. In the seventh inning, Raposo led off with a double and Jessica Feerick drove her home with a clutch single, but Mariottini was able to get the final two outs with the potential tying and winning runs on base.

STAC next meets Mercy University on Tuesday (March 26) in an ECC twin bill that starts at 2:30 pm at Spartan Field.