BROOKHAVEN, N.Y.- The Dowling College baseball (33-15) team fell twice this afternoon as the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College (34-15) capture their second straight East Coast Conference Championship title this afternoon at Golden Lions Field.
After dropping game one 12-4, the Golden Lions were first on the board with a run in the top of the third in game two. Michael Rizzitello led off the inning with a basehit through the left side. A sacrifice bunt by Vinny Orlando moved him into scoring position and a throwing error on a ball hit to the glove side of STAC third baseman Joe Boland went down the right field line allowing Rizzitello to come around and score.
STAC responded quickly taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third off a two run shot over the right center field fence by Stanley Susana. The Spartans tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh on a two out safety squeeze by Nick Gargan that brought home pinch runner Kadeem Octave making it 3-1.
After a quiet eighth inning, the Golden Lions were down to their final two outs when RJ Going blasted a shot well over the left field fence with JC Brandmaier on base to tie the game up at 3.
The Spartans were unable to end the game in the bottom half of the ninth sending the game in to extra innings. After the Golden Lions went down in order in the top half of the tenth and with two runners on STAC’s Derek Hirsch doubled over the head of left fielder Rob Veltre bringing in the game winning run in Kenny Kirshner.
Leading the Golden Lions at the plate in game two was Daniel Parisi finishing 2 for 4.
The Golden Lions now wait to see if they receive an at large bid into the NCAA East Regional tournament with the Selection Show scheduled for May 11th at 10:00 PM.