Pomona, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team took the field at Clover Stadium for the first time in 2026 on Friday, taking on the College of Staten Island in an East Coast Conference doubleheader. Playing on a brand new turf surface, the Spartans swept the Dolphins by the scores of 10-6 and 5-2.

STAC improves to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in ECC play, while CSI falls to 3-7 and 0-2.

GAME ONE - 10-6 STAC

St. Thomas Aquinas rallied from an early deficit and erupted for nine runs over the final five innings to defeat Staten Island 10–6.

Early Deficit

Staten Island jumped out quickly in the opening inning. Jamel Vera scored the game's first run when JJ Hunter lined an RBI single down the right-field line to give the Dolphins a 1–0 lead. They added two more runs in the 2nd inning. Ryan Ortega scored on a Brandon Bartick groundout before Michael Flashner delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 3–0. St. Thomas Aquinas got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Charlie Cordisco singled through the right side, scoring Tyler Haydt and cutting the deficit to 3–1.

Dolphins Add On

Staten Island continued to apply pressure in the 3rd inning when Jason Romance blasted a solo home run to left field, pushing the lead to 4–1. Two more runs came across in the 5th inning. Romance scored on a wild pitch, and Ortega followed with an RBI single to center field to make it 6–1.

Spartans Begin the Comeback

The Spartans began their rally in the bottom of the 5th inning. Anthony Dimarco reached on a fielder's choice that turned into a big play when three runs scored and an error allowed the inning to continue, trimming the deficit to 6–4. Tyler Haydt then lined an RBI single through the left side to bring home Dimarco and pull St. Thomas Aquinas within one at 6–5.

Big Seventh Inning

St. Thomas Aquinas broke the game open in the 7th inning with a five-run outburst. C.J. Cumbo started the surge with a two-run home run to left field, giving the Spartans their first lead of the game at 7–6. Later in the inning, Joshua Mccormick brought home another run on a fielder's choice before Kyle DeCresce launched a two-run homer to left, extending the lead to 10–6.

Pitching Shuts the Door

Following Andrew Schoelles' five innings of work, allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits, The Spartans' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings to close out the comeback victory. Ricardo Gonzalez worked a clean sixth inning with two strikeouts. William Fleck earned the win (3–0) after tossing two shutout innings and allowing just one hit. Lorent Hoti finished the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

Key Performers

St. Thomas Aquinas

• C.J. Cumbo: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

• Kyle DeCresce: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

• Anthony Dimarco: 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R

• Tyler Haydt: 1-for-3, RBI, R

• Charlie Cordisco: 1-for-4, RBI

Staten Island

• Jason Romance: 2-for-5, 3B, HR, 2 R, RBI

• Ryan Ortega: 2-for-3, RBI, R, 2B

• Jamel Vera: 2-for-5, 2 R, 3B

• Jack Kehoe: 2-for-5, R

GAME TWO - 5-2 STAC

STAC used timely hitting and strong pitching to complete the doubleheader sweep of CSI with a 5–2 victory

Early Advantage

The Spartans struck first in the opening inning. C.J. Cumbo scored on a throwing error during a steal attempt by Anthony Dimarco, giving St. Thomas Aquinas a 1–0 lead. The Spartans added to their advantage in the 3rd inning. Charlie Cordisco reached on a fielder's choice that brought home both Joshua Mccormick and Tyler Haydt, extending the lead to 3–0.

Dolphins Respond

Staten Island answered in the 4th inning. Vincent Weigele came around to score when Jamel Vera tripled to left-center field, putting the Dolphins on the board. Michael Flashner followed with an RBI single to center, cutting the deficit to 3–2.

Insurance Runs

St. Thomas Aquinas created some separation late in the game. In the 5th inning, Joshua Mccormick lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Anthony Dimarco and push the lead to 4–2. The Spartans added another run in the 6th when Tyler Haydt doubled down the left-field line, bringing home Dimarco to make it 5–2.

Pitching Secures the Win

The Spartans' pitching staff held Staten Island in check down the stretch. Christian Varela earned the win (3–1), allowing two runs on six hits over four innings while striking out four. Christian Simonsen followed with 2.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Angelo Bartziokas recorded the final two outs to earn his first save of the season.

Key Performers

St. Thomas Aquinas

• Tyler Haydt: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R

• Anthony Dimarco: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SB

• Charlie Cordisco: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, SB

• Joshua Mccormick: 1-for-2, RBI, R, BB, SB

Staten Island

• Jason Romance: 3-for-4

• Jamel Vera: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, R

• Michael Flashner: 2-for-3, RBI

Up Next

STAC returns to action on Saturday (March 14) against D'Youville University in a doubleheader that gets underway at noon at Clover Stadium.