SPARKILL, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference (ECC) Softball Championship is down to two teams, with the title set to be decided Sunday morning. Top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College will face D’Youville University on Sunday, May 10, at 10 a.m. for the ECC crown.
The Spartans, who won their first two games of the tournament, need just one victory to secure the championship. The Saints must win twice to claim the title.
St. Thomas Aquinas won three of four meetings against D’Youville during the regular season. Fans can follow all the action on FloCollege.
St. Thomas Aquinas 13, Mercy 0 (5 innings)
In Saturday’s opening game, St. Thomas Aquinas exploded for 10 runs in the first inning and cruised to a 13-0 victory over Mercy University.
After a scoreless top of the first, the Spartans sent their first eight batters safely aboard and scored five times before recording an out. STAC finished the inning with seven hits and a 10-0 lead. The Spartans added one run each in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
Spartan pitcher and All-ECC Second Team selection Laurn Falk tossed a five-inning no-hitter to earn the win. All-ECC First Team third baseman Trinadey Santiago went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, and five RBI.
D’Youville 8, Staten Island 2 (Staten Island eliminated)
In the tournament’s first elimination game, D’Youville defeated the College of Staten Island, 8-2.
The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead with one run in the second inning and two more in the third. CSI answered with a run in the bottom of the third, but D’Youville pulled away with two runs in the fourth and three in the sixth.
Saints second baseman Jorja Sandilands went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI. ECC Player of the Year Frankie Morris finished 1-for-1 with a double, two RBI, and a walk. Left fielder Isabella Mancino added a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored.
ECC Pitcher of the Year Summer Clark threw a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five.
For the Dolphins, second baseman Bridget Motley recorded two hits, scored a run, and drove in another.
D’Youville 7, Mercy 4 (Mercy eliminated)
In the nightcap, D’Youville rallied from an early four-run deficit to eliminate Mercy with a 7-4 win.
The Mavericks led 4-0 after three innings, but the Saints chipped away with two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and four more in the seventh to advance to Sunday’s championship game.
Seven different Saints recorded hits, while Mancino drove in two runs. Mikayla Hussar, Gabby Moreno, and Sophia Arno each added an RBI. Kendel Lehnen earned the win in relief, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.
ECC First Team shortstop Averi Miller went 1-for-3 with two runs scored for Mercy. Madelyn Perrone finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.