Posted: Apr 24, 2024
Flushing, N.Y. - A ranking in the prestigious NCAA Division II East Region poll, Elyse Marcano's 100th career hit and a doubleheader split with Queens College highlighted an eventful day for St. Thomas Aquinas College's Softball team on Wednesday.
On the strength of their 26-20 record, the Spartans are ranked eighth in the first East Region poll released early Wednesday. A few hours later, Marcano stroked her 100th career hit in an 8-2 win over Queens in the first game of an East Coast Conference doubleheader. Queens won the second game, 4-0.
Being ranked among the best Division II teams in the NCAA's East Region has become familiar territory for St. Thomas Aquinas College. This marks the fifth year that the Spartans have been included on the renowned list. The 2019 ranking was the first time that STAC had ever been ranked regionally since joining the NCAA in 2001, illustrative of the impressive work by Head Coach Kristen Sullivan to rebuild the program. The Spartans climbed to as high as seventh in the 2021 ranking.
The regional ratings are used to help determine the eight teams selected to compete in the East Region post-season tourney, which awards automatic bids to the post-season tournament champions in the NE-10, ECC and CACC and five at-large teams from those three conferences. There are 30 teams in the region from eight states – Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.
"To be ranked among the top Division II teams in the East Region is always a source of pride for our program," said Sullivan. "This year's team is very young and we've learned a lot together. I am very proud of the progress that they have made as a unit."
In the win, starting pitcher Sarah Clancy won her seventh consecutive start with seven innings of effective work. Marcano joined the distinguished 100-hit club in style with a two-run double to center field to add to STAC's 3-1 lead. Marcano's team-leading 57 hits is the most single-season safeties in program history. Senior Tara Hagan added two hits and freshmen Jessica Feerick (two hits, two RBI) and Nayah Diaz (three hits) were other offensive standouts.
Queens pitcher Arianna Fracchioni spaced six hits across seven hits to post the shutout in the second game. The split moved Queens' overall record to 15-25 and 8-10 in the ECC.
STAC next hosts the College of Staten Island on Friday (April 26) in a conference doubleheader slated to begin at 2 p.m. The team will recognize its senior players in a pregame ceremony.