Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team wrapped up its four game season-opening road trip on Sunday morning, falling to Southern New Hampshire University, 8-4 at the Ripken Experience.

STAC falls to 1-3 on the season, as SNHU improves to 7-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southern New Hampshire opened the scoring with a Nick Schwartz first-inning RBI double to left field, scoring Danniel Rivera to make it 1-0.
• The Penmen doubled their lead at 2-0 in the second inning on a Danniel Rivera single with two on and two out, as Steven Kienzle made his way to third and then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.
• In the bottom of the frame, STAC rallied to plate three runs. First a Nick O'Connor RBI single to right field brought Kyle Lagrutta in to make it 2-1. Then a balk by SNHU pitcher Austin Trumpour with runners on first and third, allowed David Potenza to come home to tie the game at 2-2.
• Joseph Scamardella's single to left field closed the Spartan scoring in the frame, as Nick O'Connor crossed the plate to give the maroon and gold its first lead of the day at 3-2.
• A Gregory DiGiaro RBI groundout in the fifth inning, plated Andrew Jemison to extend the STAC lead to 4-2.
• SNHU tied the score at 4-4 in the seventh, as Mike LaRocca stroked a 2-RBI single to right field with two on and two out, scoring both Danniel Rivera and Cristian Mercedes.
• Danniel Rivera's RBI single to centerfield with runners at the corners and one out in the ninth, pushed Jorge Burgos across to put Southern New Hampshire back ahead at 5-4.
• Two batters latter, Mike LaRocca gave the Penmen valuable insurance runs on a three-run homer to right field to make it 8-4.
• In the bottom of the ninth the Spartans saw their first two batters (Nick O'Connor & Joseph Scamardella) sent back to the dugout on strikes. An Andrew Jemison walk kept hope alive, but Gregory DiGiaro would foul out to first base to end the ballgame.

STAC PERFORMANCES

• Andrew Jemison had two hits in four at-bats and drew a walk on the day.
• Joseph Scamardella went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
• Nick O'Connor and Gregory DiGiaro each had a hit and an RBI for the Spartans.
• Andrew Guerra, Kyle Lagrutta and Sean Lynch recorded for a hit apiece.
• Orin Winslow got the start for STAC and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, while walking four and striking out four in six innings of work. Winslow took the no-decision.
• Matthew Polemeni, Mateo Reyes and Bryan Krolikowski all saw action out of the bullpen for the maroon and gold. The trio combined to throw three innings, while surrendering seven hits and six runs, while walking three and fanning one. Reyes was tagged with the loss (0-1) for allowing four hits and three runs over two innings.

FACTS & FIGURES

• The Spartans posted four runs on nine hits, with one error, while Southern New Hampshire earned eight runs on 11 hits, with two errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out five Penmen batters, while issuing seven walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded nine runners on base. SNHU left five.

UP NEXT

STAC returns back to New York and will face Pace University on Wedneday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m. in Pleasantville.