Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team clinched their fifth straight East Coast Conference Regular Season title, and the hosting duties for the upcoming conference tournament, with a doubleheader sweep of Queens College at Spartan Field on Wednesday afternoon by the scores of 9-1 and 8-1.
Both contests saw the Spartans red hot bats continue to feast on opposing pitchers, while their own hurlers; Lauren Falk and Emma Grace Popp shutdown the Knights from start to finish.
STAC improves to 28-12 overall and 16-2 in ECC play, winning its twelfth and thirteenth straight games. Meanwhile, Queens is officially eliminated from postseason play and falls to 9-28 and 3-15.
Game One: 9-1 STAC (Five Innings)
St. Thomas Aquinas wasted no time taking control and never looked back, erupting for seven runs in the first inning en route to a dominant 9–1 victory over Queens to continue its strong ECC campaign.
First-Inning Explosion
The Spartans delivered an immediate offensive onslaught in the opening frame. Olivia Leon got things started with an RBI double to score Elyse Marcano, putting St. Thomas Aquinas on the board.
Moments later, Sofia Marella continued her power surge, launching a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3–0.
The damage didn't stop there. Jordyn Gautier ripped a two-run double to right, bringing home Alyssa Haberstroh and Yazmine Garcia. Nayah Diaz capped the inning in emphatic fashion with a two-run home run to left field, giving the Spartans a commanding 7–0 advantage after just one inning.
Adding On
St. Thomas Aquinas padded its lead in the third inning. Adriana Coira delivered a two-run double to right-center, scoring Diaz and Haberstroh to push the lead to 9–0.
Queens Breaks Through
Queens got on the board in the fourth inning when Carla Chiaramonte singled up the middle to drive in Caylea Campbell, trimming the deficit to 9–1. That would be all the offense they could muster against a steady Spartans pitching performance.
Falk in Control
Lauren Falk was efficient in the circle, tossing a complete-game victory. The right-hander allowed just one run on three hits while walking one and striking out one over five innings.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
Sofia Marella: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Nayah Diaz: 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Jordyn Gautier: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Adriana Coira: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Olivia Leon: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R
Elyse Marcano: 2-for-3, R, SB
Queens
Caylea Campbell: 1-for-2, R
Kadie Cain: 1-for-2, 2B
Carla Chiaramonte: 1-for-2, RBI
Game Two: 8-1 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas completed the sweep of Queens with another commanding performance, using consistent offense and dominant pitching to secure an 8–1 victory and continue its surge atop the ECC standings.
Coira Sets the Tone
The Spartans struck first in the opening inning as Adriana Coira stayed red-hot at the plate, ripping an RBI double to left-center to score Elyse Marcano and give St. Thomas Aquinas an early 1–0 lead.
Building the Lead
St. Thomas Aquinas added to its advantage in the second inning. Marcano delivered an RBI single to bring home Jordyn Gautier, and Coira followed with another RBI double to extend the lead to 3–0.
The Spartans kept applying pressure in the fourth. Marcano executed a sacrifice bunt to drive in Gautier, and Coira capped the inning with an RBI single to push the lead to 5–0.
Taking Advantage of Opportunities
In the fifth inning, St. Thomas Aquinas capitalized on defensive miscues by Queens. Gautier reached on an error that allowed both Yazmine Garcia and Trinadey Santiago to score, stretching the lead to 7–0.
After Queens broke through in the sixth on an RBI single by Olivia Wanser, the Spartans answered right back. Olivia Leon delivered an RBI single to bring home Coira and make it 8–1.
Popp Dominates in the Circle
Emma Grace Popp was in complete control throughout the game, tossing a complete-game gem. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits while striking out six and walking none over seven strong innings.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
Adriana Coira: 4-for-4, 3 2B, 3 RBI, R, SB
Elyse Marcano: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB
Olivia Leon: 1-for-4, RBI
Jordyn Gautier: 0-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SB
Nayah Diaz: 0-for-2, R, SB
Queens
Kadie Cain: 2-for-3, SB
Olivia Wanser: 1-for-3, RBI
Sienna Denino: 1-for-2, R
Up Next
STAC takes on the College of Staten Island on Friday, May 1 at Spartan Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., with Senior Day festivities taking place before the game.