The Aquinas baseball team played its 2021 home opener on Friday afternoon (Mar. 19) at the West Michigan Sports Complex in Rockford, but Cleary spoiled the day with two late runs to top the Saints by a 7-6 final. After AQ lead 5-4 in the sixth, the Cougars took a 7-5 lead in the eighth inning and held on for the one-run victory.
 
The teams were meeting for the third game this season and are scheduled to play again on Apr. 17 in Howell. Despite being WHAC institutions, none of the three meetings thus far have counted as conference games. Aquinas drops to 9-7 overall, while Cleary improves to 6-10 on the year.
 
AQ took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a Cleary error and an RBI groundout. The Cougars moved ahead 4-3, but Aquinas re-took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a Nick Brzezinski sacrifice fly and a Sean Wing go-ahead RBI single. 
 
Cleary tied the score at 5-5 in the seventh and used a two-run single in the eighth to move in front, 7-5. The Saints had one final shot in the ninth inning and loaded the bases with one out. Chris Suriel Garcia flew out to left field and brought in a run with the sacrifice fly, but during the play, another AQ baserunner was thrown out at third base for the game-ending double play.
 
The Cougars outhit Aquinas by a 10-7 margin, but committed five errors. Cleary used 10 pitchers on Friday, while the Saints employed six hurlers. Tyler Zomerlei started for AQ and pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. He struck out four batters. Dawson Rabb was dealt the loss, allowing two runs in the eighth.
 
Wing and Nathan Hughes both went 2-for-4. Alec Lockwood scored twice, while Suriel Garcia and Michael Maher both walked once and drove in a run. 
 
AQ travels to Toledo, Ohio on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. twinbill against Lourdes in the WHAC opener for the Saints.