Wilson, N.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team headed back out on the road for games against Georgian Court University, Clarion University and West Virginia Wesleyan College on Friday and Saturday. STAC steamrolled the competition with four straight wins against Lions (12-10 & 11-8), Golden Eagles (5-3) and Bobcats (16-9) to close out the four-game trip and move their record to 6-1 on the year.

Game 1 vs. Georgian Court University

In a high-scoring showdown at the Carolina Athletic Complex, St. Thomas Aquinas edged Georgian Court 12–10 in a thrilling non-conference matchup. The Spartans' offense came alive early, putting up seven runs in the first inning and never letting the lead slip, despite a late surge from the Lions.

Offensive Highlights

• Anthony Dimarco powered St. Thomas Aquinas with a home run and drove in three runs.

• C.J. Cumbo and Tyler Haydt each contributed multiple hits, including doubles, keeping pressure on Georgian Court's pitching.

• Michael Zeis, Joshua Mccormick, Kyle DeCresce, and Nick Oelcher each had key RBIs, contributing to the Spartans' 12-run total.

• St. Thomas Aquinas totaled 13 hits and drew 6 walks, showing consistent offensive depth.

For Georgian Court, the offense remained resilient:

• Brian Guzman, Matt DiOttavio, and Evangelos Spyrogiannis all launched home runs, combining for 6 RBIs.

• Oliver Santana and Arian Lunar sparked rallies with multiple hits and stolen bases.

• Despite 12 hits and 10 runs, timely pitching struggles prevented the Lions from completing the comeback.

Pitching Breakdown

• Andrew Schoelles (W, 2-0) gave the Spartans a strong start with 5 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and striking out 7.

• Relievers Christian Simonsen and Ricardo Gonzalez helped navigate Georgian Court's late rally, though each surrendered multiple runs.

• Lorent Hoti recorded the save with a perfect 0.1 inning.

• Georgian Court starter Donovan Gevers (L, 0-2) struggled in the early innings, giving up 11 runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings. Jackson Cooper and Eduardo Eble-Lacouture stabilized the late innings but couldn't erase the deficit.

Game Summary

The Spartans jumped on top early with a 7-run first inning, forcing Georgian Court into a high-pressure game from the start. Despite a rally in the seventh and ninth innings, Georgian Court fell just short. Both teams displayed explosive offense, but St. Thomas Aquinas' timely hitting and early lead proved decisive.

Key Stats

• St. Thomas Aquinas: 13 H, 12 R, 1 E, 6 BB, 4 SO, 9 LOB

• Georgian Court: 12 H, 10 R, 2 E, 4 BB, 14 SO, 7 LOB

• Extra-Base Hits: 5 doubles (Spartans), 3 HRs (Lions)

Game 2 vs. Clarion University

St. Thomas Aquinas earned a hard-fought 5–3 victory over Clarion in a mid-afternoon matchup at Wilson Tobs Stadium. The Spartans overcame an early deficit thanks to timely hitting and strong pitching performances.

Offensive Highlights

• Ryan Hillery led the Spartans offensively with two hits and an RBI, including a key sacrifice that drove in a run.

• Anthony Dimarco and Joshua Mccormick each contributed an RBI, helping St. Thomas Aquinas take control in the middle innings.

• Charlie Cordisco doubled and scored a run, while Alex Celeiro added a stolen base to keep pressure on Clarion's defense.

• St. Thomas Aquinas totaled 6 hits but capitalized efficiently to score 5 runs, showcasing situational hitting.

For Clarion:

• Tyson Gill and Randy Carlo paced the offense with three hits each.

• Ethan Giangiulio and Tommy Smith added RBIs, keeping Clarion within striking distance throughout the contest.

• Clarion finished with 12 hits but left 9 runners on base, unable to convert enough opportunities into runs.

Pitching Breakdown

• Christian Varela (W, 1-1) delivered a solid start for the Spartans, going 5 innings with 7 hits allowed and 4 strikeouts while giving up 2 runs.

• Relievers William Fleck, Angelo Bartziokas, and James Garcia combined for 4 innings of scoreless relief, with Garcia recording the save.

• Zach Kelly (L, 0-2) pitched 6 innings for Clarion, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts. Will Dean followed with 2 scoreless innings but couldn't overcome the early deficit.

Game Summary

Clarion struck first with a run in the top of the first, but St. Thomas Aquinas responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed again. Both teams traded runs in the middle innings, but the Spartans' timely hitting and late-inning pitching sealed the win. The contest highlighted efficient offense and clutch performances from St. Thomas Aquinas, improving their record to 4–1.

Key Stats

• St. Thomas Aquinas: 12 H, 5 R, 2 E, 1 BB, 6 SO, 3 LOB

• Clarion: 12 H, 3 R, 2 E, 1 BB, 6 SO, 9 LOB

• Extra-Base Hits: Charlie Cordisco (1 double), Clarion – three doubles (Gill, Carlo, Speiden)

Game 3 vs. West Virginia Wesleyan

St. Thomas Aquinas exploded offensively to claim a 16–9 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan in a high-scoring affair at Wilson. The Spartans' bats were unstoppable, sending six different players over the fence and piling up 16 runs on 12 hits.

Offensive Highlights

• Ryan Hillery led the way with a monster game: 2 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, and a home run.

• C.J. Cumbo added 3 RBIs and a homer, while Joshua Mccormick, Charlie Cordisco, Michael Zeis, and Nick Oelcher all went deep, with Oelcher driving in 3 runs.

• The Spartans totaled 12 hits, 5 walks, and multiple stolen bases, turning timely hitting into a dominant scoring output.

• Anthony Dimarco contributed 2 RBIs and added a stolen base, helping sustain rallies throughout the game.

For West Virginia Wesleyan:

• Drew Jrolf had a big day with a home run and 5 RBIs.

• Dylan Neach went 4-for-5 with a homer and 2 RBIs, while Coleman Cross and Grant Shumaker added key hits to keep the game competitive.

• Despite 12 hits and 9 runs, the defense struggled to contain the Saints' power surge.

Pitching Breakdown

• Frailin Jimenez (W, 1-0) started for St. Thomas Aquinas, going 5 innings with 4 walks, 4 strikeouts, and allowing 6 runs.

• Relievers Jeremiah Vega and Joseph Deceglie closed out the game, combining for 4 innings of 3-run and scoreless relief, respectively.

• Alex Hernandez (L, 0-0) took the loss for West Virginia Wesleyan, giving up 13 runs on 10 hits over 4 innings, including 6 home runs. Adiel Rivera and Nolan Slaughter stabilized the final innings but couldn't overcome the Spartans' offensive onslaught.

Game Summary

The Spartans took control early, scoring 6 runs in the first three innings and never looked back. West Virginia Wesleyan made multiple pushes, including 4 runs in the top of the first and 3 in the ninth, but St. Thomas Aquinas' relentless power hitting proved decisive. The win showcased the Spartans' depth and slugging ability, boosting their momentum in early-season play.

Key Stats

• St. Thomas Aquinas: 12 H, 16 R, 1 E, 5 BB, 6 SO, 7 LOB

• West Virginia Wesleyan: 12 H, 9 R, 3 E, 5 BB, 6 SO, 11 LOB

• Extra-Base Hits: 6 HRs (Spartans), 3 doubles (Spartans), 2 HRs (Bobcats)

Game 4 vs, Georgian Court University

St. Thomas Aquinas held off a late surge by Georgian Court to secure an 11–8 victory in a back-and-forth contest at the Carolina Athletic Complex. The Saints relied on timely hitting and key pitching changes to maintain control in the final innings.

Offensive Highlights

• Michael Zeis powered the Spartans with a home run and 4 RBIs, driving much of St. Thomas Aquinas' scoring.

• Tyler Haydt added 2 RBIs on 2 hits, while Nick Oelcher contributed a 3-RBI performance.

• Ryan Hillery and C.J. Cumbo set the table with multiple runs and stolen bases, keeping Georgian Court's defense on its heels.

• St. Thomas Aquinas totaled 8 hits but drew 10 walks, using patience at the plate to complement their power hitting.

For Georgian Court:

• Brian Guzman led the offense with 2 RBIs and a triple, while JR Osmond added a homer and an RBI.

• Kody Lewis and Zinny Kemahu each drove in runs, helping Georgian Court keep the game close.

• The Golden Hawks totaled 5 hits and 11 walks, but defensive miscues and timely Spartans hitting limited their scoring opportunities.

Pitching Breakdown

• St. Thomas Aquinas starter Cole Lindquist struggled early, giving up 5 runs in 2 innings, but a bullpen combination of William Fleck, Lorent Hoti, Raul Polanco, and closer James Garcia stabilized the game, allowing only 3 runs over 7 innings combined. Garcia earned the save.

• Georgian Court's pitching saw multiple changes: Samir Lopez gave up 6 runs in 2 innings, followed by Ely Houston and Evan Corso, who allowed 3 and 2 runs, respectively.

Game Summary

The Spartans jumped out early with 6 runs in the first inning, forcing Georgian Court to play catch-up. The Lions rallied with 5 runs in the third, keeping the game within reach, but St. Thomas Aquinas' timely hitting and strong relief pitching preserved the lead. The win improved the Spartans' record to 5–1, highlighting their resilience in a tight, high-pressure game.

Key Stats

• St. Thomas Aquinas: 8 H, 11 R, 1 E, 11 BB, 16 SO, 14 LOB

• Georgian Court: 5 H, 8 R, 4 E, 11 BB, 8 SO, 9 LOB

• Extra-Base Hits: Michael Zeis (HR), Brian Guzman (3B), JR Osmond (HR)

UP NEXT

STAC takes on Holy Family University in a four-game series, with doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7 at Maplezone Sports Institute.