Goldey-Beacom Springs Upset in NCAA East Regional Debut, 3-0, over No. 17/18 St. Thomas Aquinas
RINDGE, N.H. (May 27, 2021) -- Junior right-hander Jake Heskett fired seven no-hit innings on Thursday, as Goldey-Beacom made its NCAA Championship debut in the opening game of the East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University at Pappas Field. The fifth-seeded Lightning capitalized on the pitching performance with two in the fourth and one more in the ninth to slip past second-seeded and No. 17/18 nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, 3-0.
Win the win, Goldey-Beacom improves to 21-7 and advances to play at 7 p.m. Friday, against the winner of Thursday’s second game, which features third-seeded Molloy and fourth-seeded Franklin Pierce. With the loss, St. Thomas Aquinas falls to 25-6 and will face elimination at 11 a.m. Friday, against the loser of Thursday’s third game, between top seed Southern New Hampshire and six-seeded Dominican (N.Y.).
Heskett (2-1) stole the show in the regional opener. He used 114 pitches (68 strikes) to make his way through seven scoreless, hitless innings on the hill and struck out four, though he did walk six.
Goldey-Beacom got Heskett the only runs he would need in the top of the fourth. With two outs, a single and a walk put runners on, before both advanced on a balk. Junior Bryan Bell looped a double into right field to score both runs. A single to right by sophomore Mason Maxwell -- who went 4-for-5 with a double -- in the ninth plated a late insurance run.
The NCBWA East Region Pitcher of the Year, graduate right-hander Alex Mack (7-1), worked six innings for St. Thomas Aquinas. He threw 115 pitches (73 strikes), allowed two runs on five hits, walked two, hit two and struck out eight.