The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team continues play at the NCAA Division II East Region Championship on Saturday night, as the #2 seed Spartans take on #5 seed Goldey-Beacom College in an elimination game at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 p.m.
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How They Got Here - The Regular Season Champion Spartans swept Queens College in their Best-of-Three ECC Semifinal series, before losing back-to-back one-run games to Molloy College in the East Coast Conference Tournament Final. STAC earned an at-large bid into the East Regional, which is their seventh trip to the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament. St. Thomas Aquinas suffered a 3-0 setback to #5 seed Goldey-Beacom College in Thursday's regional opener, before eliminating crosstown rival and #6 seed Dominican College in a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory on Friday.
Goldey-Beacom took the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division Regular Season Title and were also the top seed for their tournament. However, the Lighting ran into a tough Chestnut Hill squad in the Quarterfinal round and were eliminated by the score of 9-6. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, Goldey-Beacom earned an at-large bid into the regional, which is their first-ever appearance in program history. Goldey-Beacom defeated STAC 3-0 in the East Region opener on Thursday, but fell to #3 seed Molloy College on Saturday by the score of 3-2.
The Spartans (26-6) - St. Thomas Aquinas was ranked #17 in the nation in this weeks Collegiate Baseball News poll and #18 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. STAC's offense is sparked by Andrew Jemison, who holds a .367 batting average, with 11 doubles, 28 RBI and 35 runs scored. Meanwhile, James Versage posts a .321 average with 12 doubles, 5 home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs scored. On the mound, recently named NCBWA All-American Alex Mack (7-1, 1.61 ERA), along with teammates Angelo Baez (5-1, 3.71 ERA) and Aaron Dona (3-0, 2.08 ERA) rank among the circuit's top pitchers, while James Reilly holds a 2-2 record with four saves in 14 appearances and a 3.63 ERA.
The Lightning (21-8) - Goldey-Beacom posted two eight-game win streaks (Mar. 23-Apr. 17 & Apr. 24-29) and went 6-4 in their final ten games leading up to the East Regional. Mason Maxwell (.418 average, 8 Home Runs, 32 RBI) and Garrett Musey (.346 avg, 8 Home Runs, 23 RBI) provide the threats in the Lightning offense, while Trevor Jump (5-0, 4.21 ERA), Anthony DiMartino (4-0, 3.99 ERA), Mitch Guerrieri (3-1, 2.88 ERA) and Jake Kinsell (2-2, 2.57 ERA) have set the tone on the hill.
Getting to Know You - While Thursday's regional opener between the teams was the first-ever meeting between the institutions on the baseball diamond, the rematch on Saturday promises to be just as intense an affair as the inaugural encounter.
In Goldey-Beacom's 3-0 victory on May 27, Andrew Jemison and Anthony Maisano picked up the only hits on the day for STAC, both in the bottom of the eighth inning, after Lightning starter Jake Heskett left the game for reliever Jake Kinsell. Heskett pitched seven no-hit innings, walking six and striking out four enroute to picking up not only his second win of the season, but his team's first-ever NCAA tournament victory in their inaugrual tourney contest. Kinsell earned his second save of the year, giving up just two hits and striking out three over the final two innings.
Alex Mack got the start for the Spartans and pitched well, but fell into trouble in the top of the fourth inning when Trent Hearn stroked a two-out single to right field, followed by an Ivan Solis walk to put runners on base for Goldey-Beacom. A balk then moved the runners to second and third respectively, before a Bryan Bell 2-RBI double to right field would plate both Hearn and Solis to make it 2-0 in favor of the Lightning. Mack would suffer his first loss of 2021, going six innings and giving up five hits and two runs (two earned), while walking two and fanning eight.
Justin Baeyans would be called upon to pitch the seventh and eighth innings for STAC and threw two scoreless innings, only giving up a hit and striking out one. Dylan Leahy would get the nod in the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Bryan Bell, who would then be advanced to second base via a sacrifice bunt. A Mason Maxwell single to right field would score Bell to make it a 3-0 Goldey Beacom, which would be the final tally. Leahy's one inning of work saw him give up two hits and a run (one earned), while K'ing two.
In the Post-Season - With their regular-season conference championship, the Spartans have won the regular-season crown in 2008, '12, '13, '16, '17, '18 and '21, and captured the tourney title in 2013, '14, '15 and '18. STAC is making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance 2013, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18 and '21. The Spartans have won the East Region Championship in 2014 and '17, and were among the three finalists for the 2017 National Championship.
Goldey-Beacom's 2021 regional appearance and victory over STAC were firsts in the program's history.
What's Next? - The Spartans and Lightning both face a win or go home scenario this evening. The winner will move on to face #3 Molloy in another elimination contest on Sunday, with first pitch (weather permitting) scheduled for noon.
2021 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EAST REGIONAL
Thursday, May 27
Game 1: Goldey-Beacom 3/St. Thomas Aquinas 0
Game 2: Molloy 13/Franklin Pierce 5
Game 3: Southern New Hampshire 5/Dominican 1
Friday, May 28
Game 4: St. Thomas Aquinas 4/Dominican 2 (Dominican Eliminated)
Game 5: Southern New Hampshire 14/Franklin Pierce 6 (Franklin Pierce Eliminated)
Game 6: #5 Goldey-Beacom vs. #3 Molloy - Postponed to Saturday.
Saturday, May 29
Game 6: Molloy 3/Goldey-Beacom 2
Game 7: Southern New Hampshire 9/Molloy 3
Game 8: #5 Goldey-Beacom vs. #2 St. Thomas Aquinas - TBA (loser eliminated)
Sunday, May 30
Game 9: #3 Molloy vs. Game 8 Winner - Noon (loser eliminated)
Game 10: #1 Southern New Hampshire vs. Game 9 Winner - 4 p.m.
Monday, May 31
Game 11: Game 10 rematch* - Noon
*Game 11 only necessary if Game 9 Winner wins Game 10.
TICKET INFORMATION
In light of current COVID-19 guidelines issued by the state of New Hampshire and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pappas Field will be open to spectators throughout the East Regional. Spectators must maintain appropriate social distance from participants and credentialed tournament staff at all times. Face masks will be required within designated areas of Pappas Field.
Spectator parking will be in the DiGregorio lot, which is located beyond left field at Pappas Field. The parking lot entrance is on Mountain Road.
Click here for a map of spectator areas (link will be added when it is available)
Tickets will be available at the gate to Pappas Field each day
Adults: $8
Children/Seniors: $5
College students with ID: $5
Children under two-years-old will be admitted free of charge.
Per NCAA policy, no complimentary admissions will be issued.
TRAVEL, PARKING & AREA INFORMATION
Directions
Campus Map (Spectator parking will be in DiGregorio lot, beyond left field of Pappas Field; parking lot entrance is on Mountain Road.)
LIVE STATS & VIDEO
Franklin Pierce will provide live stats and live video throughout the duration of the tournament. Details and links are available at the Championship Central web page via the Franklin Pierce University Athletics Website.