New Castle, Del. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball returned to action on Friday, making the trip down Interstate 95 for an afternoon doubleheader with non-conference foes Wilmington University (Del.) at Asbury Field. In a pair of one-run decisions, STAC fell 5-4 in game one, before earning a 2-1 win in the final contest of the day.
STAC moves to 6-8 on the year, while Wilmington goes to 4-16.
Game One: 5-4 Wilmington
Wilmington (Del.) rallied late to edge St. Thomas Aquinas, 5–4, overcoming a mid-game deficit with a two-run sixth inning.
Back-and-Forth Early
St. Thomas Aquinas struck first in the second inning when Sofia Marella launched a solo home run to right-center field for a 1–0 lead.
Wilmington answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on a Spartans error to tie the game at 1–1.
The Wildcats grabbed their first lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Maddie Vollmar, making it 2–1.
Spartans Surge Ahead
St. Thomas Aquinas responded with a three-run fifth inning to regain control. Elyse Marcano tied the game with an RBI double, and Adriana Coira followed with an RBI single to give the Spartans a 3–2 edge.
Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Marcano to score, extending the lead to 4–2.
Wilmington Comes Back
Wilmington chipped away in the fifth as Mia Lane drove in a run with a double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to 4–3.
In the sixth, the Wildcats completed the comeback. A sacrifice bunt by Caroline Scott tied the game, and Rylee Maloney followed with an RBI fielder's choice to give Wilmington a 5–4 advantage.
Pitching Holds Late
Olivia Hitchens shut the door over the final 2.2 innings, holding the Spartans scoreless to secure the win. Maddie Vollmar started in the circle, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over 4.1 innings.
Lauren Falk went the distance for St. Thomas Aquinas, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out two in the tough-luck loss.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas:
- Elyse Marcano: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R
- Adriana Coira: 1-for-4, RBI
- Sofia Marella: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
- Jordyn Gautier: 2-for-2, BB, R
Wilmington (Del.):
- Maddie Vollmar: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Haley Grygo: 2-for-3, R
- Mia Lane: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
- Cassidy Zelano: 0-for-1, 2 BB, R
Game Two: 2-1 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas edged Wilmington (Del.), 2–1, riding a clutch late hit from Sofia Marella and a dominant complete-game performance by Emma Grace Popp.
Pitchers in Control Early
Both teams were kept off the scoreboard through the first three innings as Popp and Wilmington's Kasey Xenidis settled in early. Hits were hard to come by, with each lineup struggling to generate offense.
Trading Blows in the Fourth
The Spartans broke through in the fourth inning when Sofia Marella launched a solo home run to left field, giving St. Thomas Aquinas a 1–0 lead.
Wilmington answered immediately in the bottom half, as Maddie Vollmar raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to even the score at 1–1.
Late Game Heroics
With the game still tied in the seventh, the Spartans delivered the decisive moment. Olivia Leon reached base and later came around to score on a Marella double to right-center field, putting St. Thomas Aquinas ahead 2–1.
Popp Slams the Door
Popp was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game two-hitter. She allowed just one run while striking out six and working around three walks to secure her third win of the season.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas:
- Sofia Marella: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Olivia Leon: 1-for-2, BB, R
Wilmington (Del.):
- Maddie Vollmar: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
- Angelina Edwards: 1-for-2, 2B
Up Next
STAC opens conference play with a visit to Mercy University on Tuesday, March 24. Game one of the ECC softball twin bill gets underway at 2:30 p.m. in Dobbs Ferry, New York.