Aquinas won its second game in a row on a chilly day at home 4-0.  AQ scored two in the first when Bennie Barrow walked, and was scored on a Max DeNora double.  DeNora scored on Ben Knauf’s triple.  In the top of the second, Cory Benedetto walked, advanced to second on a throwing error attempted pick-off, and scored on Jacob Scheuch’s single.  AQ scored another run in the fourth when Benedetto earned first on an error, stole second, and scored on a Taylor Byrne single.  Sophomore Bennie Barrow pitched a complete game shutout for the Li’l Irish giving up three hits and striking out ten to earn his first Varsity win.

AQ plays rival McQuaid at home on Wednesday at 4:15 pm.

Will Leonardo 2 for 2, Ben Knauf 1 for 3 (3B, RBI), Max DeNora 1 for 3 (2B, RBI), Taylor Byrne 1 for 3 (RBI), Jacob Scheuch 1 for 3 (RBI), Josh Hanna  1 for 2, Bennie Barrow (7 IP, 3 H, 10 K’s, 0 ER)

Josh Hanna  1 for 3 (HR, RBI), Will Leonardo 1 for 2 (RBI), Geo Dougherty 1 for 3, Taylor Byrne - below (7 IP, 1 H, 5 K’s, 0 ER)

 In the top of the fourth, Aquinas exploded for thirteen runs when seventeen batters came to the plate. With one out, Will Leonardo’s triple started things off. A controversial runner interference play involving the Albion pitcher and Josh Hanna occurred – Hanna being called out and the Albion pitcher had to leave the game. The replacement pitcher was ineffective, walking five and hitting two batters before singles by Leonardo & Hanna, and another walk chased the pitcher from the mound. Taylor Byrne singled scoring two, followed by another walk, and then a DeNora double scored the final two for the inning. Albion rebounded for two more in the bottom of the fifth and seven more in the sixth when Aquinas relievers had some difficulty of their own. In all, it was a great team effort that put the team back in the win column.

Will Leonardo, 3 for 3 (3B, 2 RBI), Max DeNora 2 for 3 (2B, 2 RBI), Bennie Barrow 2 for 3 (2 RBI), Taylor Byrne 2 for 4 (HR, 3 RBI, 5 IP 8K, 2 H, 2 ER)

Aquinas returned from their Florida trip to fall at home to Greece Athena, 13-5, on a cold April day.  The game was scoreless through three.  Athena scored one in the top of the fourth, but Aquinas responded with one in the bottom of the frame.  Taylor Byrne singled, was advanced on a fielder’s choice, and then scored on a single by Tommy Mastrodonato.  Athena rebounded with two more in the top of the fifth, and four in the sixth, aided by a number of errors by AQ players.  Aquinas scored three more in the bottom of the 6^th when Reagan Morrow walked, Bennie Barrow singled and Josh Hanna singled – all with two outs.  Singles by Geo Dougherty and Max DeNora scored one each, then Taylor Byrne walked scoring the third run before the last out was made.  The game slipped away in the top of the 7^th when Athena scored 6 more.  Aquinas closed the scoring by tallying one in the bottom of the seventh when Mastrodonato made second on an error, then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Amato Garcia’s ground out drove in Mastrodonato.   

Taylor Byrne 2 for 2 (2 BB, RBI), Bennie Barrow 1 for 1, Geo Dougherty 2 for 4 (RBI), Amato Garcia 1 for 3 (RBI),  Max DeNora  1 for 4 (RBI), Tommy Mastrodonato 1 for 4 (RBI, 5 IP, 4 H, 4 K’s, 2 ER)

In a great pitching contest, Aquinas came up on the short end of the stick.  Taylor Byrne pitched a strong game scattering 6 hits with 5 strike-outs through 6 innings.  Aquinas batters were silenced by three strong Naples pitchers who only gave up two hits and one walk in the contest.  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Naples struck for three runs.  In the top of the 5^th, Aquinas scored their one run when Ben Knauf led off and made first on an infield error, was advanced to second when Amato Garcia walked, and then a wild pitch advanced both runners.  Cory Benedetto’s grounder to the second baseman scored Knauf.  Naples scored their final run in the top of the 6^th.  Aquinas’ two hits came off the bat of Josh Hanna, but AQ was not successful in getting Hanna to score.  Aquinas returns home to Rochester to face Greece Athena at AQ on Tuesday the 17^th at 4:30 pm.

Josh Hanna  2 for 3, Taylor Byrne (6 IP, 6 H, 5 K’s, 4 BB’s

Ben Knauf  2 for 2 (RBI), Taylor Byrne 2 for 3 (2B), Max DeNora 1 for 3 (2B), Tommy Mastrodonato 1 for 2 (RBI)

Seminole Ridge H.S. jumped to an early lead in the first, then broke a 3 to 3 tie in the fourth inning to take an 8 to 3 victory.  Aquinas scored one in the second when Taylor Byrne singled, stole second, and then scored on a throwing error to first on a Tommy Mastrodonato grounder.  In the fourth, AQ scored two more, the first when Max DeNora tripled followed by a Byrne single scoring DeNora.  Ben Knauf singled, but Byrne was called out trying to stretch to third; Knauf advanced to second. Another infield error struck by Mastrodonato scored Knauf to tie the score at 3.  Seminole Ridge scored three in the bottom of the fourth and followed with one more in the fifth and sixth innings. 

Taylor Byrne 3 for 3 (RBI), Max DeNora 1 for 3 (3B), Geo Dougherty 1 for 3, Ben Knauf 1 for 3

Gilman Academy (Baltimore Md.) 5 - Aquinas 0

In the first game of the road trip south, Aquinas batters were stymied by Gilman Academy pitching in a 5 – 0 loss.  Aquinas batters managed 3 hits in the contest and were just short of driving home runners who were in scoring position three different times.  Tom Mastrodonato and Reagan Morrow pitched, scattering 9 hits for Aquinas. Solid fielding, including turning 3 double plays, limited the Greyhound offense to no more than 2 runs in an inning.

Adam Baron 1 for 1, Amato Garcia 1 for 2, Taylor Byrne 1 for 3

Josh Hanna 3 for 5 (3 RBI), Ben Knauf 3 for 4 (2 2B, RBI); Tommy Mastrodonato 2 for 4 (2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 1/3rd IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K's); Max DeNora 3 for 5; Geo Dougherty 2 for 4 (RBI), Amato Garcia 1 for 4 (3 RBI), Reagan Morrow 1 for 4 (2B, RBI), Taylor Byrne 1 for 4, RBI