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Rapid Reaction

RINDGE, N.H. (May 28, 2021) -- Three unearned runs in the top of the ninth turned the tables on Friday, as second-seeded and No. 17/18 nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas rallied to stay alive on the second day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University. The Spartans worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half of the inning to hold on to a 4-2 victory over sixth-seeded Dominican (N.Y.) in an elimination game at Pappas Field.

With the win, St. Thomas Aquinas improves to 26-6 and advances to play in Saturday’s 3 p.m. game. With the loss, Dominican saw its season come to a close at 19-15.

Trailing 2-1 heading for the ninth, St. Thomas Aquinas took advantage of defensive miscues to take the victory. A throwing error followed by a wild pitch allowed sophomore Andrew Jemison to tie the game with a one-out single to left. After a dropped fly ball put another runner on, freshman Joseph Scamardella lashed a single to right to drive home the go-ahead run, while another run scored as the right fielder misplayed the ball.

Dominican loaded the bases with one out for the top of its order in the bottom half of the ninth, but could not capitalize. St. Thomas Aquinas turned to sophomore right-hander Justin Baeyens, who came on in search of his first save of the season. He locked up both sophomore Brian Sanders and the NCBWA East Region Player of the Year, senior Joshua Colon, with fastballs on the outside corner to record a pair of looking strikeouts and end the game.

Junior right-hander James Reilly (2-2) was the beneficiary of the runs in the ninth to win, despite allowing four hits and the game-tying run over 1.1 innings out of the bullpen. The victim of the sloppy defense was junior left-hander William Espinal (4-5), who was charged for three unearned runs on three hits over 1.1 innings out of relief work.