Pomona, N.Y. - Strong pitching and timely hitting led the St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team to a twin bill sweep of Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Clover Stadium.

An Andrew Guerra RBI single, broke up a 6-6 tie in the eighth inning and gave STAC the 7-6 game one victory. In game two, Aaron Dona's electric pitching performance allowed the maroon and gold to ride Kyle DeCresce's fifth inning RBI sacrifice fly to a 1-0 triumph.

STAC improves to 17-16 overall and 11-4 in ECC play, while Molloy slips to 23-13 and 11-4. The teams are now tied atop the conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season series.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

• STAC broke out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning. Kyle DeCresce got things started with a 2 RBI single up the middle, scoring both Gregory DiGiaro and Sean Lynch to make it 2-0.
• A C.J. Cumbo bases loaded single to right field brought home DeCresce to expand the lead to 3-0.
• Andrew Guerra's single to centerfield with the bases still full of Spartans, allowed both David Potenza and Andrew Jemison to make their way to the plate to make it a 5-0 game.
• Molloy responded in kind in the sixth inning with five runs of their own. First Aidan Larkin's single through the right side, broke the shutout as JJ DeVito scored make it 5-1.
• After a throwing error by the STAC pitcher moved the runners to second and third, Andrew Alameda uncorked a wild pitch that scored Garrett Scavelli to cut the Lions deficit to 5-2.
• Another Spartan miscue, this time by the second baseman, allowed Aidan Larkin to race home to make it 5-3.
• Jake McCarthy's RBI triple to centerfield, brought Gavin McAlonie in to score and closed the gap to just one, 5-4.
• Molloy finally tied things at 5-5, when Matt Yip singled through the left side with McCarthy making his way home.
• The Spartans answered back in the bottom of the stanza with a David Potenza solo shot to left field, untying the game and making it 6-5 for the hosts.
• In the seventh, the visiting Lions evened things for the second time in the contest, as Garrett Scavelli's sac-fly to right field, brought in JJ DeVito to make it 6-6.
• STAC put themselves back on-top for good in the opener, when Andrew Guerra singled up the middle with Andrew Jemison making his way home to make it 7-6.
• Molloy attempted to rally back in the ninth. However, a one-out single by Robby Keane was all for naught, as STAC was able to pick up the final two outs to end the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

• The Spartans and Lions were locked in a pitcher's duel for the first four and a half innings, as both starters; Aaron Dona and Sean Welsh were making the most of their pitches, and sending down opposition batters with great ease.
• STAC finally broke the stalemate in the bottom of the fifth inning. A Nick O'Connor single and a Gregory DiGiaro walk put runners at first and second with no one out.
• A sacrifice bunt by Billy Minett moved the runners up to second and third, setting up the game-winning run on an RBI sacrifice fly by Kyle DeCresce, which brought O'Connor to the plate to make it 1-0.
• Despite action on the bases for Molloy in the sixth, which included a single and a fielder's choice combined with a throwing error from the STAC second baseman, starter Aaron Dona then induced back-to-back ground balls to end the half inning.
• In the seventh, Dona slammed the door shut on the Lions with three straight strikeouts to give the Spartans the one-run victory and the doubleheader sweep.

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• David Potenza went 3-for-6 on the afternoon with home run, an RBI and two runs scored.
• Sean Lynch (2-for-3, double, run) and Andrew Jemison (2-for-8, double, 2 runs) provided extra base hits for the Spartans.
• STAC also received hits from Kyle DeCresce (2), Andrew Guerra (2), Gregory DiGiaro, C.J. Cumbo and Nick O'Connor in the doubleheader.
• Andrew Alameda got the ball for Spartans in game one on Saturday and threw five and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs (2 earned) on five hits, while walking three and striking out one. Alameda was charged with a no-decision.
• Bryan Krolikowski worked out bullpen for the Spartans, and allowed five hits and a run over three and a third innings, while walking one and fanning one to earn his second win (2-2) of the season.
• Game two starter Aaron Dona was simply amazing on the hill for the maroon and gold. En route to his fourth victory of the year (4-2), the righty tossed a complete game, allowing only two hits and two walks, while mowing down 10 Lions batters.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans posted 8 runs on 14 hits, with 3 errors, while Molloy earned 6 runs on 12 hits, with no errors in two games.
• STAC pitchers struck out 12 Lions batters, while issuing 6 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 12 runners on base. Molloy left 8 in both contests.

UP NEXT:

STAC looks to take this four-game season series and pull ahead in the ECC standings on Sunday (April 16), as the Spartans and Lions shift things back to Mitchel Field on Long Island for a Noon contest.