Three-run third provides only scoring

RINDGE, N.H. (May 14, 2015) – St. Thomas Aquinas junior right-hander Matt Kostalos spun a six-hit shutout and struck out eight on Thursday, while freshman right fielder Giovanni Dingcong and junior catcher Richard Cesca Jr. each had RBI singles as part of a three-run third, as the No. 1/3 nationally ranked, top seed and host Franklin Pierce University baseball team suffered its first loss since March 25, 3-0, at the hands of sixth-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas on the first day of the NCAA Championship East Regional at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) went 2-for-3 in defeat for the Ravens, who were shutout for the first time all season.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 46-3, has its program-record winning streak snapped at 27 games and will face elimination at 11 a.m. Friday against the loser of Thursday's game between Stonehill and Dowling at 3 p.m. With the win, St. Thomas Aquinas improves to 28-17-1 and will play at 3 p.m. Friday against the loser of Thursday's nightcap between Southern New Hampshire and Wilmington at 7 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas did the game's only scoring with a three-run third inning, as the Spartans sent eight men to the plate and collected five hits against Franklin Pierce sophomore right-hander Mike Lundin (Kingston, Mass.). The inning started at the bottom of the order with senior center fielder Rich Baerga, who hit a broken-bat dribbler under the glove of Lundin and out behind the mound for an infield single. Baerga then stole second and went to third on a bunt single up the third-base line by freshman second baseman Joseph Pena. On the play, sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) barehanded the ball, but threw it away, which allowed Baerga to score the game's first run. After Pena stole second, he moved to third on a groundout and scored when Dingcong chopped a ball over the head of Jabs at third and into left field for an RBI single. Dingcong moved to second on a single up the middle by senior first baseman Christian Santo and then a walk to junior shortstop Brandon Fischer loaded the bases. Cesca then capped the inning's scoring with an RBI single back through the middle to score Dingcong.

Meanwhile, the Ravens were flustered by Kostalos all day. The only inning the team had multiple runners on at the same time was the bottom of the fifth, when a single by sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.), a walk to junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) and a single by Sheehan loaded the bases with two outs. Kostalos was then able to get Jabs to pop up to shortstop on the third pitch of the at-bat to end the threat.

Lundin was less effective on the hill for Franklin Pierce, as he was forced to throw 83 pitches (50 strikes) over four-plus innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five while taking the loss (8-1).

Kostalos went the distance on 125 pitches (94 strikes) for St. Thomas Aquinas. He threw his first shutout and fourth complete game of the season, allowed six hits, walked one, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out eight on the way to the win (8-4).

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).