Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team welcomed the defending East Coast Conference Champions from D'Youville University to Spartan Field on Friday afternoon for a regular season conference doubleheader. In the opener, the visiting Saints picked up a 4-1 victory, before the Spartans rallied late in the nightcap to earn a thrilling 11-10 walk-off triumph.
STAC moves back to the .500 mark at 9-9, while improving to 3-1 in ECC action, as DYU goes to 11-9 and 1-1.
Game One: 4-1 D'Youville
St. Thomas Aquinas dropped its first ECC contest of the season, falling 4–1 to D'Youville despite an eight-hit effort. The Spartans were unable to overcome a big middle-inning push from the Saints.
Scoreless Start Before Breakthrough
Both teams traded zeros through the first three innings, with pitching on both sides keeping hitters off balance early.
D'Youville broke through in the fourth inning when Frankie Morris delivered an RBI double to left field, scoring Annie Jorgenson for a 1–0 lead.
Middle Innings Make the Difference
The Saints created separation in the fifth inning. Jorgenson struck again, ripping a two-run double to left center to bring home Mikayla Hussar and Danielle Fenlong, extending the advantage to 3–0.
St. Thomas Aquinas answered in the bottom half of the inning. Nayah Diaz drove in Trinadey Santiago with a single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 3–1.
Insurance Seals It
D'Youville added an insurance run in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to push the lead to 4–1 and maintain control the rest of the way.
Strong Effort in the Circle
Lauren Falk went the distance for the Spartans, allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits while striking out four.
On the other side, Summer Clark was effective throughout, holding St. Thomas Aquinas to just one run on eight hits while striking out six to earn the complete-game victory.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Elyse Marcano: 2-for-3
- Trinadey Santiago: 2-for-3, R
- Nayah Diaz: 1-for-3, RBI
- Adriana Coira: 1-for-4, SB
D'Youville
- Annie Jorgenson: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Frankie Morris: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- Mikayla Hussar: 2-for-3, R
- Gabby Moreno: 2-for-4
Game Two: 11-10 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas erased a late deficit in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in the seventh inning to secure an 11–10 walk-off victory over D'Youville and earn a split on the day.
Early Offense Sets the Stage
D'Youville opened the scoring in the first inning, taking a 1–0 lead on a wild pitch.
The Spartans answered immediately in the bottom half with a big swing from Sofia Marella, who launched a three-run home run to left center, scoring Olivia Leon and Elyse Marcano to give St. Thomas Aquinas a 3–1 advantage.
Back-and-Forth Second Inning
The game turned in the second inning as D'Youville erupted for seven runs. Key hits included a two-run single from Danielle Fenlong and a grand slam from Jorja Sandilands, putting the Spartans behind 8–3.
St. Thomas Aquinas responded with four runs of its own in the bottom half. Elyse Marcano drove in a run, Olivia Leon added a two-run double, and another run scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 8–7.
Trading Runs Late
D'Youville added to its lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth, extending the margin to 10–7.
The Spartans chipped away again in the sixth inning. Sofia Marella delivered an RBI single, and Yazmine Garcia followed with an RBI hit to bring St. Thomas Aquinas within one at 10–9.
Walk-Off Finish
In the seventh, the Spartans completed the comeback. Jordyn Gautier scored the tying run on a defensive error, setting the stage for Trinadey Santiago, who delivered a walk-off RBI single to right field to seal the 11–10 victory.
Battle in the Circle
Emma Grace Popp went the distance for St. Thomas Aquinas, earning the win after striking out five.
D'Youville used two pitchers, with Kendal Lehnen starting and Hailee Jenkins taking the loss despite a solid relief effort.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Olivia Leon: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Sofia Marella: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
- Elyse Marcano: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R
- Trinadey Santiago: 1-for-4, walk-off RBI, R
- Jordyn Gautier: 2-for-3, 2 R, SB
D'Youville
- Jorja Sandilands: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R
- Danielle Fenlong: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, R
- Frankie Morris: 2-for-4, 2-2B, R
- Isabella Mancino: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Up Next
STAC travels to Caldwell University for a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 29. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.