The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team's magical season came to an end on Friday afternoon at the hands of nationally ranked LIU Post in the third round of the East Coast Conference playoffs in Brookville, N.Y.
The Spartans dropped a 12-3 decision to LIU Post after advancing earlier in the day with a 3-1 win over NYIT. The win over NYIT broke the program's 35-year record for most wins in a season with 25 as the Spartans closed the memorable season at 25-21.
LIU Post, ranked 20th in the nation NCAA Division II poll with a 46-9 record, will meet the University of Bridgeport tomorrow in the championship round. Bridgeport defeated LIU Post, 4-0, earlier Friday and now needs one win tomorrow to capture its first ECC title ever. The winner will earn an automatic bid in next week's East Regional.
STAC's milestone win over NYIT came in dramatic fashion. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, junior Melissa Sadler (Milton, N.Y.) drilled a long home run over the right field fence. Freshman Amanda Castro (Mission Viejo, Calif.) then stroked a one-out double and Taylor Sullivan (Suffern, N.Y.) drove in pinch-runner Valerie Winalski (East Granby, Ct.) with a clutch single. Sullivan later scored on a passed ball.
Winning pitcher Colleen Borum (Mountain Top, Pa.) made the runs stand to close out yet another outstanding effort. The senior right hander scattered six hits and walked only one batter in a masterful performance against the same NYIT team that had swept STAC five days ago. Borum received important defensive support from Kelcy McGeehan (Bayville, N.J.) at third base and Sadler in center field.
In the second game, LIU's Abbey Fortin broke open a close game in the fifth inning with a grand slam homer to left field. Sadler finished the day with five hits for STAC.
"These girls have so much to be proud of," said STAC Head Coach Kristen Sullivan. "Our comeback in the seventh inning against NYIT showed the grit and determination of this team. Colleen has pitched brilliantly for the last week and was terrific again today. This team made STAC history after being picked in the pre-season coaches poll to finish in last place, and that says it all."