Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team split a non-conference twin bill with Le Moyne College on Friday in the Spartans 2023 season opener at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach. STAC earned a 13-4 victory in the opener, before falling 2-1 in eight innings in the backend of the doubleheader.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE

• Nick Nevins' first-inning RBI single through the right side brought home Zach Brush to score the season's first run for Le Moyne.
• A Gregory DiGiaro double to right center field allowed Joseph Scamardella to cross the plate to tie the game at 1-1.
• Andrew Guerra then smacked a two-run homer to right field in the very next at-bat to put the Spartans ahead, 3-1.
• Zach Brush's fielder's choice in the second inning, combined with an error by the second baseman scored both Wyatt Patchett and Jason Boule to knot the game at 3-3.
• In the bottom of the inning, David Potenza stole third and made his way home on an error by the catcher to put STAC back ahead 4-3.
• A three-run third by the maroon and gold on the strength of RBI singles by C.J. Cumbo and Nick O'Connor, and a balk by Dolphins pitcher Kennen Smith expanded the STAC lead to 7-3.
• Billy Minett's sacrifice fly to centerfield plated Andrew Guerra in the fourth inning to make it 8-3 Spartans.
• A Nick O'Connor's sixth inning grand slam blew the game open at 12-3. Kyle Lagrutta, C.J. Cumbo and Billy Minett all circled the bases on the homer.
• Le Moyne picked up its fourth run on a Jordan Goldman pinch-hit sacrifice fly to right in the eighth, scoring Brady Fureno to make it 12-4.
• STAC closed out the scoring on an Andrew Guerra's second home run of the day, this one a solo shot to right field, in the bottom of the stanza to increase the lead to 13-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO

• Brody Keneston reached on a fielder's choice in the first inning for Le Moyne, with teammate Zach Brush scoring on the play to make it 1-0.
• STAC tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh, as Sean Lynch singled through the left side to plate Nick O'Connor
• The Dolphins took victory in extra innings when Wyatt Patchett singled down the left field line with a pair of runners on base and no one out. Philip Zollo would score the game-winning run to end things at 2-1 in eight innings.

STAC PERFORMANCES

• Nick O'Connor went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, 5 RBI and 2 runs scored on the day.
• Andrew Guerra's two home run performance, capped a 3-for-7 doubleheader, with 3 RBI and 4 runs scored.
• C.J. Cumbo had two hits in three plate appearances, while recording an RBI and 2 runs scored. 
• STAC also saw hits from Gregory DiGiaro, Joseph Scamardella, Kyle Lagrutta, Billy Minett, David Potenza and Sean Lynch in the season opening games.
• Aaron Dona got ball in the opener for St. Thomas Aquinas and pitched seven solid innings, giving up five hits and three runs (two earned), while walking five and striking out seven to earn the his first victory of the new campaign.
• Jeremiah Vega made his debut for the Spartans out of the bullpen, hurling two innings in relief, while surrendering only one run on three walks.
• John Archer started game two and pitched six innings, giving up five hits and a run, while walking three and K'ing three. Archer picked up the no-decision in the contest.
• Bryan Krolikowski (Loss, 0-1) came on in relief in the seventh inning and surrendered three hits and a run, while walking two, including the game-clincher in the eighth for Le Moyne.

FACTS & FIGURES

• The Spartans posted 14 runs on 13 hits, with 2 errors, while Le Moyne earned 6 runs on 13 hits, with 2 errors in two games.
• STAC pitchers struck out 10 Dolphins batters, while issuing 13 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 13 runners on base. Le Moyne left 21 in both contests.

UP NEXT

St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1) continues its three-day Myrtle Beach tour, taking on Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, February 25. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00am at the Ripken Experience.