Durham, N.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team opened its four-game North Carolina road trip with a doubleheader split against Wilmington University (Del.) on Friday morning at Durham Park. The Wildcats took game one 3-2, before the Spartans equaled the twin bill with a 1-0 shutout victory.

STAC moves to 4-2 on the season, while Wilmington also goes to 4-2 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE): 

Btm 2nd Inning - Nick Oelcher advanced to second on a throwing error by the Wilmington pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt. Sean Lynch scored on the error from second base. 1-0 STAC

Btm 2nd Inning - Joseph Scamardella singled to centerfield, with Isaac Pena advancing to second base and Nick Oelcher scoring. 2-0 STAC

Top 4th Inning - Tyler Pirrung doubled to right field, with Mason DeLuca advancing to second base, but then is thrown out at third base via a relay from the right fielder to the shortstop to the third baseman. Meanwhile, Jack McDonald and Eric Grady both scored. GAME TIED 2-2

Top 7th Inning - Zach Walker singled to centerfield, with Tyler Pirrung scoring the eventual game winning run. 3-2 WILM

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO): 

Top 5th Inning - Joseph Scamardella reached first base on a fielding error by shortstop, with Isaac Pena advancing to third base and then scoring on the error. 1-0 STAC

STAC PERFORMANCES:

• Joseph Scamardella went 2-for-7 on the day, with an RBI.
• Sean Lynch had three hits in seven at-bats for the Spartans, while scoring a run and drawing a walk.
• Isaac Pena stroked a double in his only at-bat of game one, while also being walked. He also drew two walks in game two, while scoring a run.
• Kyle DeCresce and Justin Klayman had a hit apiece in two at-bats in game two, both being doubles. The duo was also walked one time each.
• John Archer returned to the mound for STAC in game one on Friday and picked up a non-decision, hurling five innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five Wildcats batters.
• Andrew Speranza came out of the bullpen for the Spartans in the sixth inning and pitched the final two innings of the game, giving up three hits and a run, while fanning three. He was charged with his first loss of the year (0-1).
• Game two featured Andrew Alameda pitching 6.1 shutout innings, while only allowing a hit and striking out nine Wilmington hitters. 
• Kyle Rogers came on in relief for the final two outs of the seventh inning, sending down both batters via Ks to earn his second save of the campaign.

FACTS & FIGURES:

• The Spartans totaled 3 runs on 8 hits, with no errors, while Wilmington earned 3 runs on 9 hits, with two errors.
• STAC pitchers struck out 19 Wildcats batters, while issuing 5 walks on the day.
• St. Thomas Aquinas stranded 17 runners on base. Meanwhile Wilmington left 14 in the doubleheader.

UP NEXT:

STAC takes on Mansfield University on Saturday (March 2) at Durham Field, with first pitch now set for 5:30 p.m. in the Tar Heel State.