Flushing, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team returned to the diamond on Friday afternoon, opening a four and a half game weekend set against Queens College. The Spartans and Knights continued their halted game from March 22 and then took the field for the regularly scheduled contest, with both being played at Hennekens Stadium.
STAC tacked on four additional runs over the final four innings of the opener to close out game one 7-1, before dropping a narrow 5-4 decision to Queens in the nightcap.
The maroon and gold move to 19-11 and 8-7 in ECC play, while hosts go to 8-18 and 3-11.
Game One: 7-1 STAC (RESUMPTION OF SUSPENDED GAME FROM MARCH 22)
St. Thomas Aquinas used early offense and strong pitching to secure a 7–1 victory over Queens (N.Y.) on March 22 and April 10.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Spartans struck immediately in the first inning. Anthony Dimarco drove in Ryan Hillery with an RBI single, and Kyle DeCresce followed with a base hit to center to plate another run, giving St. Thomas Aquinas a quick 2–0 lead.
Trading Homers
Queens got on the board in the third when John Harkins launched a solo home run down the right-field line to cut the deficit to 2–1.
The Spartans answered right back in the bottom half, as C.J. Cumbo connected on a solo homer of his own to restore a two-run advantage at 3–1.
Rain, Rain Go Away...Not
A light rain at the start, gave way to a steady and sometimes heavy rain which made it impossible for pitchers to safely grip the baseball. This caused the game to be suspended in the top of the fourth inning with STAC leading 3-1. The game will resume on Friday, April 10 at Queens College and will be picked up where it left off.
Big Fourth Inning Breaks It Open
When the game resumed on April 10, St. Thomas Aquinas created separation in the fourth inning, capitalizing on both timely hitting and Queens miscues.
Michael Zeis came around to score on a throwing error, and Cumbo added an RBI single to extend the lead. Later in the inning, Dimarco grounded into a double play, but another run scored on the play, pushing the advantage to 6–1.
Adding Insurance
The Spartans tacked on one more run in the fifth inning. Tyler Haydt scored during a double-play sequence, extending the lead to 7–1.
Pitching Dominance
St. Thomas Aquinas pitching held Queens to just two hits on the day. Cole Lindquist allowed one run over three innings, while Christian Simonsen earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Ricardo Gonzalez closed things out with two shutout frames.
Queens starter Severino Napolitano Jr. took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits over two innings. Jordan Babbo was charged with four runs (two earned) in one inning, as the Spartans pulled away.
Key Performers
Queens (N.Y.)
- John Harkins: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
- Nick Piazza: 1-for-2
- Joshua Angely: 0-for-0, 2 BB
St. Thomas Aquinas
- C.J. Cumbo: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Anthony Dimarco: 2-for-3, RBI, R
- Kyle DeCresce: 1-for-3, RBI
- Ryan Hillery: 0-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB
Game Two: 5-4 Queens
Queens (N.Y.) built an early lead and held off a late push from St. Thomas Aquinas to secure a 5–4 ECC victory in the regularly scheduled contest.
Queens Breaks Through in the Fourth
After three scoreless innings, Queens broke the game open in the fourth. A wild pitch allowed the first run to score before Tommy Pasqua delivered a two-run single to left, giving the Knights a 3–0 advantage.
Spartans Begin to Respond
St. Thomas Aquinas got on the board in the fifth inning when Ryan Hillery lined an RBI single to score Michael Zeis, cutting the deficit to 3–1.
Queens answered in the bottom half, as Nico Sorice doubled down the left-field line to bring home John Harkins and extend the lead to 4–1.
STAC Closes the Gap
The Spartans made their move in the sixth inning. Alex Celeiro came through with a clutch two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Joshua Mccormick and Tyler Haydt to trim the deficit to 4–3.
Insurance Proves Key
Queens added an important insurance run in the seventh, with Joshua Angely driving in a run on a single to make it 5–3.
Late Push Falls Short
St. Thomas Aquinas threatened in the ninth, plating a run on a double-play ball to cut it to 5–4. However, Queens was able to close it out and secure the win.
Pitching Holds the Line
Michael Vilardi delivered a strong outing for Queens, earning the win after allowing three runs over eight innings. Peter Nenadich III picked up the save despite surrendering a run in the ninth.
Cole Lindquist took the loss for the Spartans, allowing three runs over four innings. The STAC bullpen limited further damage, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Alex Celeiro: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- Joshua Mccormick: 2-for-4, R
- Michael Zeis: 2-for-4, R
- Ryan Hillery: 1-for-4, RBI
Queens (N.Y.)
- John Harkins: 4-for-4, R
- Tommy Pasqua: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
- Nico Sorice: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
- Joshua Angely: 1-for-4, RBI
Up Next
STAC hosts Queens College in an ECC doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 at Clover Stadium. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.