Pomona, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team earned a doubleheader split with Molloy University on Sunday afternoon at Clover Stadium, and in the process ended the Lions 23-game winning streak, which was the second longest run in Division II. Molloy took a 4-0 game one decision, before STAC rallied to take the nightcap 4-1.
STAC moves to 24-18 overall and 13-12 in ECC play, while Molloy goes to 32-8 and 22-3.
Game One: 4-0 Molloy
Molloy rode dominant pitching and timely power to a 4–0 shutout victory over St. Thomas Aquinas, controlling the game from the opening inning and never letting the Spartans find their rhythm.
Early Strike for Molloy
Molloy jumped ahead right away in the first inning. Steve Mulqueen delivered the big blow, launching a two-run home run to right-center to give Molloy an early 2–0 lead.
Pitchers Take Over
After the first inning, both teams settled into a pitching duel. Andrew Schoelles kept the Spartans within reach, while Molloy starter JC Kiss worked efficiently through the lineup, limiting scoring chances.
Insurance in the Fifth
Molloy added crucial insurance runs in the fifth inning. Mike Sweeney came through with a clutch two-run single, driving in Jack Vallario and Anthony Marsillo to extend the lead to 4–0.
Spartans Unable to Capitalize
St. Thomas Aquinas collected six hits but couldn't break through offensively. Ryan Hillery recorded two doubles, and Joshua Mccormick added a pair of hits, but the Spartans stranded multiple runners and were unable to deliver a key hit.
Strong Finish on the Mound
JC Kiss earned the win with six shutout innings, scattering six hits while striking out two. Jason Torres was dominant in relief, tossing three hitless innings to secure the shutout and his first save of the year.
Key Performers
Molloy
- Steve Mulqueen: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Mike Sweeney: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 SB
- Sean Welsh: 1-for-4, R
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Ryan Hillery: 2-for-5, 2 2B,
- Joshua Mccormick: 2-for-3, 2B
- Kyle DeCresce: 1-for-4
Game Two: 4-1 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas used late-inning execution and took advantage of defensive miscues to rally past Molloy, 4–1, salvaging a split behind timely hitting and strong bullpen work.
Molloy Strikes First
Serving as the home team for the nightcap, due to Saturday's rainout on Long Island, Molloy got on the board in the opening inning. Charlie Imhof delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Sean Welsh and give the Lions an early 1–0 lead.
Pitching Duel Early
Both teams were held in check through the middle innings. Christian Varela kept Molloy contained despite early traffic, while Mike Knapp was dominant on the mound for Molloy, tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Spartans Break Through
St. Thomas Aquinas finally broke through in the sixth inning. Joshua Mccormick delivered a game-tying RBI single, bringing home Anthony Dimarco to even the score at 1–1.
Seventh-Inning Surge
The Spartans took control in the seventh inning with a three-run rally. C.J. Cumbo's sacrifice bunt forced a throwing error that allowed two runs to score, giving STAC its first lead of the game. Moments later, Anthony Dimarco ripped an RBI double down the right-field line to extend the advantage to 4–1.
Lockdown Relief
The Spartans' bullpen shut the door from there. Lorent Hoti earned the win with two strong innings of relief, and James Garcia struck out three in a dominant ninth inning to secure the save.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
- Anthony Dimarco: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
- Joshua Mccormick: 1-for-4, RBI
- Nick Oelcher: 2-for-2
Molloy
- Charlie Imhof: 1-for-2, RBI
- Sean Welsh: 1-for-2, 3B, R
- Mike Sweeney: 1-for-4, 2B
Up Next
STAC wraps up its six-game regular season series with Molloy on Monday, April 27 at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m in Uniondale, N.Y.