Uniondale, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team wrapped up their six-game regular season series with Molloy University on Monday afternoon at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex on Long Island. A three-run eighth inning by the Lions, erased the Spartans slim 3-2 lead and propelled the hosts to a 5-4 victory.
STAC falls to 24-19 overall and 13-13 in ECC play, while Molloy improves to 33-8 and 23-3.
5-4 Molloy
In a tightly contested ECC matchup, St. Thomas Aquinas came within reach late but couldn't hold off Molloy's eighth-inning rally, dropping a 5–4 decision.
Pitchers Control the Early Innings
The game opened as a pitching duel, with both staffs working around traffic. Spartans starter Dylan Wilkinson battled through 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit but issuing five walks, consistently escaping jams to keep the game scoreless early.
Molloy finally broke through in the fourth, manufacturing a run with patience at the plate as Joe Burriesci drew an RBI bases loaded walk to make it 1–0.
Trading Runs in the Middle Frames
St. Thomas Aquinas answered in the sixth, tying the game at 1–1 despite not recording a hit in the inning. C.J. Cumbo came around to score on a double-play ball, taking advantage of situational execution.
The Lions quickly responded in the bottom half, as Charlie Imhof launched a solo home run to left, reclaiming a 2–1 lead.
Spartans Surge Ahead in the Eighth
The Spartans found their breakthrough in the eighth inning. After putting runners on, Michael Zeis delivered a key RBI single that turned into a two-run play following a Molloy error, giving St. Thomas Aquinas its first lead of the game at 3–2.
With momentum finally shifting, the Spartans appeared poised to steal a road win.
Eighth-Inning Miscues Prove Costly
That momentum didn't last. In the bottom of the eighth, Molloy capitalized on control issues and defensive lapses to flip the game.
Mike Sweeney tied it with an RBI single before a throwing error allowed two more runs to score, both unearned, as the Lions surged back in front 5–3 without needing a big hit.
Late Push Comes Up Short
St. Thomas Aquinas mounted one final push in the ninth. Ben Moscatiello came around to score on a C.J. Cumbo fielder's choice, aided by another Molloy error, trimming the deficit to one.
However, the rally stalled there, as Molloy reliever Artie Green recorded the final out to secure the 5–4 win.
Opportunities and Free Passes Tell the Story
Despite being outhit just 6–4, the Spartans worked six walks but struggled to capitalize consistently, leaving eight runners on base. Molloy, meanwhile, drew nine walks and took full advantage of key moments, especially in the decisive eighth inning.
Defensively, three Molloy errors kept the Spartans in the game, but a critical throwing error by St. Thomas Aquinas in the eighth proved to be the difference.
Pitching Effort Solid but Undone Late
Wilkinson set the tone early, while Christian Simonsen added two solid innings in relief. Raul Polanco kept the game within reach before James Garcia was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs (both unearned) in the eighth.
On the other side, Thomas Charlwood held the Spartans to one run over five innings, while Dylan Schriver earned the win despite late trouble, and Artie Green closed it out.
Top Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- C.J. Cumbo: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
- Michael Zeis: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB
- Ryan Hillery: 1-for-4, BB, R
- Anthony Dimarco: 1-for-5, 2B, R
Molloy
- Joe Burriesci: 1-for-1, RBI, R, 3 BB
- Mike Sweeney: 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB
- Charlie Imhof: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, BB
- Jeremy Taggart: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Up Next
STAC closes out the regular season with a four-game series at Clover Stadium against D'Youville University. Game one is set to be played on Thursday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m.