Uniondale, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team's postseason run came to an end on Friday at the East Coast Conference Tournament, as the Spartans suffered a 21-17 defeat at the hands of the Mercy College Mavericks at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex.

STAC wraps up its 2023 season with a 23-27 overall record and a 16-8 ECC mark. Meanwhile, Mercy (16-33) was knocked out of the dance later in the day by Queens College, setting up a second straight championship final between the Knights and Molloy University on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

 3rd - Sean Lynch grounded out to ss, RBI; Gregory DiGiaro scored. 3-0 STAC

  3rd - Jaden Caballero singled down the lf line, RBI; Janiel Ramirez scored. 3-1 STAC

  4th - Sean McAdams flied out to rf, sacrifice fly, RBI; Zach Ashline advanced to third; Steven Schoen scored. 3-2 STAC

  4th - Gabe Sanders singled to left field, RBI; Zach Ashline scored. GAME TIED 3-3

  5th - Joseph Scamardella advanced to second on a wild pitch; Christopher Conti advanced to third on a wild pitch; Sean Lynch scored on a wild pitch. 4-3 STAC

St. Thomas Aquinas

  5th - Joseph Scamardella advanced to third on a wild pitch; Christopher Conti scored on a wild pitch. 5-3 STAC

St. Thomas Aquinas

  5th - Nick O'Connor doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI; David Potenza scored; Joseph Scamardella scored. 7-3 STAC

  5th - Andrew Guerra singled through the right side, 2 RBI; C.J. Cumbo scored; Nick O'Connor scored. 9-3 STAC

  5th - Gregory DiGiaro stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c; Kyle Lagrutta scored, unearned. 10-3 STAC

  5th - Zach Ashline doubled to right center, 2 RBI; Steven Schoen scored; Nolan Giblin scored. 10-5 STAC

Mercy

  5th - Sean McAdams homered to left field, 2 RBI; Zach Ashline scored. 10-7 STAC

Mercy

  5th - Jared Hernandez doubled to left field, ground-rule, RBI; Janiel Ramirez advanced to third; Gabe Sanders scored. 10-8 STAC

  5th - Nolan Giblin reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Jaden Caballero advanced to second; Jared Hernandez advanced to third; Janiel Ramirez scored. 10-9 STAC

  5th - Steven Schoen walked, RBI; Nolan Giblin advanced to second; Jaden Caballero advanced to third; Jared Hernandez scored. GAME TIED 10-10

  5th - Zach Ashline hit by pitch, RBI; Steven Schoen advanced to second; Nolan Giblin advanced to third; Jaden Caballero scored. 11-10 MERCY

Mercy

  5th - Zach Ashline advanced to second on a passed ball; Steven Schoen advanced to third on a passed ball; Nolan Giblin scored on a passed ball, unearned. 12-10 MERCY

Mercy

  5th - Joseph Gonzalez reached first on a throwing error by ss; Zach Ashline advanced to third; Steven Schoen scored, unearned. 13-10 MERCY

  5th - Sean McAdams singled to center field, RBI; Joseph Gonzalez advanced to third; Zach Ashline scored, unearned. 14-10 MERCY

  5th - Gabe Sanders homered to left field, 3 RBI, unearned; Sean McAdams scored, unearned; Joseph Gonzalez scored, unearned. 17-10 MERCY

  6th - Andrew Guerra doubled to right center, ground-rule, 2 RBI; C.J. Cumbo advanced to third; David Potenza scored; Joseph Scamardella scored. 17-12 MERCY

St. Thomas Aquinas

  6th - Kyle Lagrutta singled to right center, 2 RBI; Andrew Guerra scored; C.J. Cumbo scored. 17-14 MERCY

St. Thomas Aquinas

  7th - Joseph Scamardella singled to right field, RBI; Christopher Conti advanced to third, scored on a fielding error by rf; Sean Lynch scored. 17-16 MERCY

Mercy

  7th - Gabe Sanders tripled to left center, 2 RBI; Sean McAdams scored, unearned; Joseph Gonzale scored. 19-16 MERCY

Mercy

  7th - Janiel Ramirez flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI; Gabe Sanders scored. 20-16 MERCY

Mercy

  8th - Nolan Giblin homered to left center, RBI. 21-16 MERCY

St. Thomas Aquinas

  9th - Nick O'Connor advanced to second on a balk; Alex Celeiro advanced to third on a balk; Joseph Scamardella scored on a balk. 21-17 MERCY

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Kyle Lagrutta went 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles, 2 RBIs and two runs scored on the afternoon.
• Nick O'Connor (1-for-6, Double, 2 RBIs, Run, Walk), C.J. Cumbo (3-for-5, Double, 3 Runs, Walk), Andrew Guerra (3-for-6, Double, 4 RBIs, Run, Walk), and Christopher Conti (3-for-5, 2 Runs, Walk) recorded extra base hits for the Spartans.
• STAC also received hits from Gregory DiGiaro (1-for-6, 2 RBIs, Run), Sean Lynch (2-for-4, RBI, 2 Runs, Walk), Joseph Scamardella (3-for-4, RBI, 3 Runs, 2 Walks), David Potenza (1-for-4, 2 Runs, Walk), Justin Klayman (1-for-1).
• John Archer got the nod for STAC on Friday and was tagged for nine runs on 10 hits, while walking four and striking out one over four and two-thirds innings. Archer picked up a no-decision.
• Relievers Mateo Reyes and Andrew Alameda were each asked to keep the game within reach, but were unsuccessful in the endeavor, combining to allow seven hits and 12 runs (5 earned), while walking two and fanning two. Reyes was charged with the loss (3-2) for allowing eight runs (two earned) on three hits, while walking one and not recording an out.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans posted 17 runs on 22 hits, with 2 errors, while Mercy earned 21 runs on 17 hits, with 3 errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out 3 Mavericks batters, while issuing 7 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 14 runners on base. Meanwhile Mercy left 4 in the postseason contest.