WINTER PARK, Fla. – After Bentley University came from behind twice to even the score, St. Thomas Aquinas College picked up three runs in the final two innings to top the Falcons, 5-2, in non-conference college baseball Sunday afternoon at  Rollins College's Alfond Stadium.

With the score knotted at 2-2, Spartan senior third baseman C.J. Ferriggi (Bellmore, N.Y.) led off the eighth with a double to right. Two outs later, with Ferriggi on third, Bentley senior pitcher Scott Lueders (Mansfield/Newton South HS) was called for a balk, allowing Ferriggi to trot home with the go-ahead run.

Doubles were a factor again in the ninth with the Spartans' fourth and fifth two-baggers of the day allowing STAC to add two insurance runs. After a double by senior center fielder Nick D'Angelo (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) and a walk to junior second baseman Omar Cuevas (Queens, N.Y.) set the table, junior shortstop Stanley Susana (Puerto Plava, D.R.) lined a two-run double to right center.

The Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Ferriggi in the first and Bentley countered in the third. Senior DH Dante Padovani (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield HS) reached on an error and scored on a double to left by senior center fielder Sean Keady (Norwood, Mass./Norwood HS).

Ferriggi put the Spartans back in front when he scored an unearned run in the sixth, but Bentley answered right back in the bottom of the frame. Junior left fielder Mike Muir (Bridgewater, Mass./Xaverian Bros. HS) singled through the left side, took second on a sacrifice and scored on a single up the middle by senior shortstop Will Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS).

After Bentley put runners on the corners in the sixth, STAC used a caught stealing to get out of the inning without further damage. The Falcons also had runners in scoring position in each of the final three innings, but couldn't capitalize.

Senior righty Brian Tompkins (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) picked up the win for STAC with two scoreless innings of relief and Ferriggi came in to earn the save, striking out two in the ninth.

Junior lefty Ryan O'Connor (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport HS) started for Bentley and gave up three hits and one run in four innings of work. He walked one and struck out five.

The two teams will continue their three-game series at 2 pm Monday.