Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team extended their current winning streak to nine games, with a pair of non-conference victories over Felician University on Wednesday afternoon at Spartan Field. STAC received a walk-off home run from Trinadey Santiago to take game one, 8-7, before powering their way to a 9-5 decision over the Golden Falcons in the nightcap.
STAC improves to 24-12 on the season, while Felician slips below the .500 mark at 19-21.
Additionally, Spartans designated player Sofia Marella joined the record books by clubbing her 100th career hit, while pitcher Emma Grace Popp collected her 100th career strikeout in just her freshman season.
Game One: 8-7 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas edged Felician in a back-and-forth battle, walking it off in dramatic fashion to secure an 8–7 victory and complete a hard-fought win at home.
Early Offense Sets the Pace
Felician struck first in the opening inning, taking a 1–0 lead on a heads-up play that brought home Kimberly Torres.
The Spartans responded immediately in the bottom half. Adriana Coira delivered an RBI double to tie the game, and Sofia Marella followed with a run-scoring groundout to give St. Thomas Aquinas a 2–1 edge.
Big Second Inning Surge
St. Thomas Aquinas created separation in the second inning with a four-run outburst.
Nayah Diaz got things going with an RBI single, and Elyse Marcano followed with another run-scoring hit. Marella capped the inning with a clutch two-run single, extending the Spartans' lead to 6–1.
Felician Battles Back
Felician chipped away in the middle innings.
A two-run single from Kelsey Vitalis in the third cut the deficit to 6–3. In the fourth, Torres came through again with a two-run double, making it a one-run game at 6–5.
Marella Adds Insurance
The Spartans picked up a key insurance run in the fifth inning when Marella launched a solo home run to right center, pushing the lead to 7–5.
Late-Inning Drama
Felician refused to go away. In the seventh inning, Mikayla Brown delivered a game-tying two-run homer to even the score at 7–7, capping a relentless offensive effort.
Walk-Off Winner
St. Thomas Aquinas had the final answer. In the bottom of the seventh, Trinadey Santiago crushed a solo home run to left field, sealing the 8–7 walk-off victory for the Spartans.
Falk Goes the Distance
Lauren Falk earned the win with a complete-game effort, working through traffic all afternoon. She allowed 13 hits and seven runs (five earned) over seven innings.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Elyse Marcano: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
- Adriana Coira: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Sofia Marella: 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, R
- Trinadey Santiago: 1-for-4, HR (walk-off), RBI, R
- Alyssa Haberstroh: 2-for-3, 2 2B, R
Felician
- Kimberly Torres: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Kelsey Vitalis: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- Hannah Ramirez: 3-for-4, R
- Mikayla Brown: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Alyson Walling: 2-for-3, R
Game Two: 9-5 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas used a pair of big innings and a power surge at the plate to defeat Felician 9–5, completing the sweep behind a balanced offensive attack and a steady performance in the circle from Emma Grace Popp.
Scoreless Start Before Spartans Strike
Both teams were held in check through the first two innings before the Spartans broke through in the third.
Elyse Marcano sparked the rally and came around to score on an RBI single from Olivia Leon. Moments later, Adriana Coira showcased aggressive baserunning by stealing home, and Sofia Marella followed with an RBI single to cap a three-run inning and give St. Thomas Aquinas a 3–0 lead.
Power Bats Extend the Lead
The Spartans kept rolling in the fourth inning behind the long ball.
Nayah Diaz launched a solo home run to left center, and shortly after, Coira crushed a two-run homer to right center, stretching the lead to 6–0.
Felician's Fifth-Inning Rally
Felician responded with its biggest push in the fifth inning.
Mikayla Brown delivered a three-run home run to get Felician on the board, and a sacrifice fly from Kelsey Vitalis added another run. The pressure continued as a wild pitch allowed another run to score, trimming the deficit to 6–5.
Marella Delivers the Knockout Blow
With the game tightening, the Spartans answered in the sixth inning.
Marella came through again in a big moment, blasting a three-run home run to center field to push the lead to 9–5 and provide crucial breathing room.
Popp Closes It Out
Emma Grace Popp went the distance to earn the win, striking out seven over seven innings. Despite working around six walks, she limited Felician to five runs and made key pitches to shut the door after the fifth-inning rally.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Elyse Marcano: 4-for-4, 3B, 3 R, SB
- Sofia Marella: 3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, R
- Adriana Coira: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
- Olivia Leon: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
- Nayah Diaz: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
Felician
- Mikayla Brown: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
- Alyson Walling: 2-for-4, 2B, R
- Autumn Eck: 2-for-4
- Kimberly Torres: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
NCAA News
The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team is one of nine teams in the East Region listed as "under consideration" for NCAA bids in the first NCAA Division II Softball rankings, as released by the regional advisory committee with games played through April 19. The East Region consists of the top teams from the East Coast Conference, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, and the Northeast-10 Conference, and the regional rankings are used to determine at-large bids to the East Regional portion of the NCAA Tournament following conference tournaments at the end of the season.
Teams "Under Consideration": Adelphi, Bridgeport, Caldwell, Franklin Pierce, Goldey-Beacom, Mercy, Southern Connecticut State, Southern New Hampshire & St. Thomas Aquinas.
Up Next
STAC heads back out on the road for an ECC doubleheader with Molloy University on Friday, April 24 at the RVC Sports Complex on Long Island. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.