Pomona, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team took both ends of an ECC doubleheader from Lincoln University on Friday at Clover Stadium. STAC scored six runs in the seventh inning to break open a 5-5 tie and take game one from the Lions, 11-5. In game two the maroon and gold allowed runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, but held on to defeat Lincoln, 6-4.

The twin bill sweep moves the Spartans to 14-13 overall and 8-2 in conference play, while Lincoln drops to 9-20-1 and 2-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

• STAC opened the scoring with three-fourth inning runs. First, Kyle Lagrutta's RBI double to centerfield, scored C.J. Cumbo to make it 1-0.
• A Billy Minett single to centerfield then brought home both Lagrutta and Gregory DiGiaro, extending the Spartans lead to 3-0.
• Lincoln took a one-run lead in the fifth inning, with a Jalen Greenidge 2 RBI double down the right field line, followed by another 2 RBI hit, this one a single, courtesy of Bryce Oliver. Sebastian Iguaran, Josh Shepherd, Josiah Bowles and Greenidge all crossed the plate to make it 4-3 Lions.
• In the sixth, Nick O'Connor's sacrifice bunt, turned into an error, allowing him to reach first base. It also sent Andrew Guerra to the plate to tie the game at 4-4.
• Two batters later, Kyle DeCresce reached via a fielder's choice, and combined with two more Lions miscues, scored teammate Gregory DiGiaro from second base to give the Spartans back the lead at 5-4.
• A Jaden Greenidge bases loaded RBI single to left field in the top of the seventh inning, scored Bryce Oliver to re-tie the game at 5-5.
• In the bottom of the stanza, STAC would bust out for six runs to take put themselves up 11-5. First, Gregory DiGiaro's double to left-centerfield, brought both C.J. Cumbo and Andrew Guerra around to score to make it 7-5.
• Then, Kyle DeCresce singled to centerfield with another Lincoln error allowing him to advance to second base. On the play Nick O'Connor and DiGiaro made their way to the plate to extend the lead to 9-5.
• Andrew Jemison put the game away three batters later with a 2 RBI single to centerfield, with DeCresce and Potenza scoring to give STAC the 11-5 advantage and the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

• St. Thomas Aquinas plated three-second inning runs, as Gregory DiGiaro's double to right-centerfield, Sean Lynch's single up the middle and David Potenza's single to right field, brought home Kyle Lagrutta, DiGiaro and Kyle DeCresce to make it 3-0.
• In the third inning, Kyle Lagrutta's RBI triple to left field, scored C.J. Cumbo to extend the Spartans lead to 4-0.
• An Andrew Guerra double to right-centerfield in the fifth, sent C.J. Cumbo to the plate once again, giving STAC a 5-0 advantage.
• Kyle Lagrutta's RBI ground out in the very next at-bat, scored Guerra from second base to make it a 6-0 game.
• Lincoln finally got itself on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, as Josiah Bowles fielder's choice, combined with a STAC error allowed DeAndre Bowens to reach the plate and cut the deficit to five at 6-1.
• Then, another maroon and gold misplay, allowed Jalen Greenidge to reach first base, while both Josh Shepherd and Bowles made their way home to slash the margin on the scoreboard to 6-3.
• An eighth inning RBI single to the shortstop by Jalen Greenidge with two outs, scored Josiah Bowles to make it a 6-4 game.
• Despite a two out double down the right field line by Jaden Greenidge in the ninth inning, STAC reliever Mateo Reyes was able to work out of trouble to end the game and give the hosts the doubleheader sweep.

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• C.J. Cumbo went 5-for-8 with a pair of doubles and four runs scored.
• Gregory DiGiaro (3-for-7, 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, 4 runs), Kyle Lagrutta (3-for-7, Double, Triple, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) and Kyle DeCresce (3-for-7, 2 Doubles, RBI, 2 runs) on the afternoon.
• STAC also received hits from Nick O'Connor (2), Andrew Jemison (2), Sean Lynch (1), Billy Minett (1), David Potenza (1) and Andrew Guerra (2) in the doubleheader.
• Aaron Dona got the start for Spartans in game one and gave up three hits and four runs in four and two-thirds innings of work. He also walked three and struck out twelve. However, Dona had to leave the game in the fifth inning due to injury and picked up a no-decision as a result.
• Matthew Polemeni and Bryan Krolikowski were tasked with keeping things in check for the Spartans out of the bullpen. The duo combined to hurl four and one-third innings, allowing two hits and run, while walking four and fanning five. Krolikowski earned his first victory of the season to move his record to 1-2.
• John Archer took the ball in game two and pitched six and two-thirds innings, giving up three hits and three runs (none earned), while walking four and K'ing three. Archer got the victory for his efforts and improves to 3-2 on the year.
• Mateo Reyes came on in relief for STAC in the seventh inning to earn his third save of the campaign. The righty surrendered four hits and a run over two and a third innings pitched, while issuing no walks and striking out a Lions batter.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans posted 17 runs on 23 hits, with 4 errors, while Lincoln earned 9 runs on 12 hits, with 6 errors in two games.
• STAC pitchers struck out 21 Lions batters, while issuing 11 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 14 runners on base. Lincoln left 18 in both contests.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas College wraps up its four-game conference series with Lincoln University on Saturday, April 8 at Clover Stadium, as the teams play two for a second consecutive day. Game one is a nine inning affair with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The backend of the twin bill will be a seven-inning contest and gets underway around 2:30 p.m.