Garden City, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Softball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Division II East Regional Final with a 3-1 triumph over hosts Adelphi University on Friday morning at Janet L. Ficke Field on Long Island.
No. 3 STAC secures its NCAA Division II-best 20th straight victory and improves to 35-12, and will face a still to be determined opponent in Saturday's (May 16) regional final at noon. Meanwhile, No. 2 Adelphi falls to 36-22 and will face the winner of No. 6 Southern New Hampshire (33-22) and No. 7 Bridgeport (33-19) in an elimination game at 3:00 p.m. today.
3-1 STAC
St. Thomas Aquinas leaned on timely hitting and another dominant performance from Lauren Falk to secure a 3–1 victory over Adelphi on Friday.
Spartans Strike Early
The Spartans wasted little time getting on the board in the opening inning.
Olivia Leon reached and later came around to score when Trinadey Santiago lined an RBI single to center field, giving STAC an early 1–0 advantage.
Adelphi answered in the second inning after Ellen Tarjan scored on a throwing error following a fielder's choice, evening the game at 1–1.
St. Thomas Aquinas quickly regained control in the third.
Leon once again sparked the offense, and Santiago delivered for the second time in the afternoon with another RBI single to center, scoring Leon to put the Spartans back in front, 2–1.
Insurance Run Adds Breathing Room
The Spartans added an important insurance run in the sixth inning.
After Jordyn Gautier worked her way aboard and advanced into scoring position, Adriana Coira ripped an RBI double down the right-field line to bring home Gautier and extend the lead to 3–1.
STAC managed six hits on the afternoon, with Santiago leading the way offensively after recording two RBIs on a pair of singles. Sofia Marella also collected two hits in the win.
Falk Continues Dominant Stretch
Lauren Falk delivered another strong outing in the circle, tossing six innings while allowing just four hits and no earned runs. The right-hander struck out two and consistently worked out of trouble to earn her 18th victory of the season.
Emma Grace Popp handled the seventh inning to record her second save of the year and close out the Spartans' 35th win of the season.
Key Performers
St. Thomas Aquinas
-Elyse Marcano: 1-for-4
-Adriana Coira: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
-Olivia Leon: 0-for-2, 2 R, BB, SB
-Sofia Marella: 2-for-4
-Trinadey Santiago: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
-Jordyn Gautier: 0-for-0, R, BB
-Lauren Falk: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
-Emma Grace Popp: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Adelphi
-Emma Priest: 1-for-4
-Jaylen Wright: 1-for-3
-Maddy Moore: 1-for-3
-Tori Parente: 1-for-3
-Jenna Plue: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
-Lily Kenney: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K
2026 NCAA Division II Softball Championship -- East 2 Regional (May 14-16)
at Janet L. Ficke Field - Garden City, N.Y.
Thursday, May 14
Game 1: #7 Bridgeport 0 vs. #2 Adelphi 3
Game 2: #6 So. New Hampshire 6 vs. #3 St. Thomas Aquinas 7
Friday, May 15
Game 3: #2 Adelphi 1 vs. #3 St. Thomas Aquinas 3
Game 4: #7 Bridgeport vs. #6 So. New Hampshire - 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser - 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 16
Game 6: #3 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Game 5 winner - 12 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner - 2:30 p.m.