Flushing, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team return to action on Wednesday, visiting Queens College for an afternoon East Coast Conference doubleheader at the QC Softball Field in Queens.
In the opener, the Knights used five singles and a home run to propel themselves to a 7-1 win, before the Spartans powered their way to an 8-2 victory via a steller pitching performance, three extra base hits and defensive miscues by the hosts.
STAC moves to 11-11 overall and 4-2 in ECC play, while Queens goes to 3-14 and 1-3.
Game One: 7-1 Queens
Queens used an early offensive surge and a dominant pitching performance to defeat St. Thomas Aquinas, 7–1, in ECC play.
Fast Start for the Spartans
St. Thomas Aquinas struck first in the opening inning. Elyse Marcano reached and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Adriana Coira, giving the Spartans an early 1–0 lead.
Queens Responds Immediately
The lead was short-lived, as Queens answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Olivia Wanser tied the game with an RBI single before Caylea Campbell followed with another run-scoring hit to make it 2–1.
Queens continued to build momentum in the second inning. Carla Chiaramonte delivered an RBI single, and Wanser added another run-scoring hit to extend the lead to 4–1.
Fourth Inning Breaks It Open
Queens put the game out of reach in the fourth inning. Chiaramonte drove in a run with her second RBI single of the day, and Wanser followed with a two-run home run down the left field line to push the advantage to 7–1.
Spartans Limited at the Plate
St. Thomas Aquinas was held to just three hits in the game and was unable to generate sustained offense after the first inning. Sofia Marella, Lauren Falk, and Elyse Marcano each recorded a hit.
Queens Controls the Circle
Nellie Donahue was in command throughout, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on three hits. She struck out five and walked one in the victory.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Elyse Marcano: 1-for-2, R
- Sofia Marella: 1-for-3
- Lauren Falk: 1-for-2
- Adriana Coira: 0-for-2, RBI
Queens (N.Y.)
- Olivia Wanser: 3-for-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
- Carla Chiaramonte: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R
- Kadie Cain: 2-for-4, 2 R
- Caylea Campbell: 2-for-4, RBI
Game Two: 8-2 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas responded in a big way, using a late offensive explosion and a dominant pitching performance to earn an 8–2 victory over Queens and split the doubleheader.
Early Edge for the Spartans
The Spartans got on the board in the first inning. Yazmine Garcia drove in Adriana Coira with an RBI single, giving St. Thomas Aquinas a 1–0 lead.
Queens answered in the second inning when Olivia Wanser connected on a solo home run to even the score at 1–1.
Pitchers Settle In
Both teams were held in check over the next few innings as the game remained tied. Emma Grace Popp kept Queens off balance in the circle, while Caylea Campbell matched her through five innings.
Sixth Inning Surge Breaks It Open
St. Thomas Aquinas took control in the sixth with a five-run inning. Alyssa Haberstroh started the rally with an RBI double to score Jordyn Gautier.
Moments later, Coira delivered an RBI double to bring home Alyssa Liguori and push the lead to 3–1. The Spartans capitalized on defensive miscues, with two runs scoring on an error before Sofia Marella added an RBI double to cap the inning and make it 6–1.
Insurance in the Seventh
The Spartans added two more runs in the seventh. Nayah Diaz singled to drive in Yazmine Garcia, and another run scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 8–1.
Queens picked up a late run on Wanser's second home run of the game in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
Popp Dominates in the Circle
Emma Grace Popp delivered a complete-game performance, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking none to earn the win.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Alyssa Haberstroh: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
- Adriana Coira: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Nayah Diaz: 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB
- Sofia Marella: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- Yazmine Garcia: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Queens (N.Y.)
- Olivia Wanser: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Caylea Campbell: 1-for-3, 2B
- Brigid Hood: 1-for-3
Up Next
STAC hosts Molloy University in an ECC twin bill on Saturday, April 4 at Spartan Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.