The Spartans were in action this weekend against PACE in Petersburg, Va.
STAC out hit PACE 8 to 6, but left 9 runners on base. Coupled with the untimely hitting, the Spartans committed 6 errors to open the door for a PACE victory 7-4. Joe Guistino went 2-for-4 and Chris Zapata went 1-for-2 with 3 walks, a run, and a stolen base. Starting Pitcher, Joel Violette went 5 innings, struck out 6, surrendered 5 hits, and 3 earned runs in a losing effort. Scott Sadowski hurled 3 shutout innings in relief, surrrendering only 1 hit.
Giustino
The Spartans battled back from an early 5-0 deficit with 2 runs in the 7th, and run in the 8th, and a 2-out, 2-run homer off the bat on Vin Malzahn to tie the game in the top of the 9th. The game would go to the bottom of the 11th when a 2-out dropped fly ball would allow the winning run to score and give PACE a 6-5 victory. John Mazzello led the Spartan hitting attack going 3-for-6, adding a run and a stolen base. Fernando Peralta added 2 hits and an RBI. Starter Brian LaMarr went 6 strong innings, scattered 7 hits, struck out 5, walked 1, and limited PACE to only 2 earned runs. Freshman, Mark Fochesato pitched well in relief going 3 innings, striking out 4, and allowing no earned runs.
Mazzello
The Spartans put together some 9th inning heroics to win 10-8. Down 8-6, STAC scored a run in the 7th and entered the top of the 9th down a run. Mike Triana led off the 9th with a walk. Kevin Connors followed with a double to the right-center gap to score Triana and tie the game. John Mazzello followed with a triple to the same spot scoring Connors to put the Spartans ahead and then Vin Malzahn followed with a single to center to score Mazzello as an insurance run. Freshman, Chris Schoepe picked up the victory going 4 innings in relief, striking out 3, walking none, and giving up only one unearned run. Jon Della Monica picked up the save with a perfect 9th inning.
Connors
The Spartans could muster no offense against the PACE starter
and entered the 6th inning down 1-0. A 2-out, 2-run single would
stretch the PACE lead to 3-0 and the game would end with that
score. Freshman pitcher, Mike Aviles gave STAC every chance to win
with 5 innings of work. He struck out 4, gave up only 3 hits, and
gave up only 1 run.