The Aquinas baseball team traveled to Mishawaka, Indiana to take on Bethel in a non-conference nine inning game on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 24). The Pilots pitched eight different players as the Aquinas offense was dominant. The Saints outscored the Pilots 19-10 to earn the victory and advance to a 14-9 overall record.
After two scoreless innings, Aquinas cracked open the scoring in the top of the third as Sean Wing singled, stole second, and scored on a wild throw. The Saints rallied again in the fourth outscoring the Pilots 4-1 on three hits.
It was a very offensive fifth inning for both teams as AQ scored seven and Bethel scored six. To start the fifth inning was one of the Pilots pitching changes. Three straight walks loaded the bases for the Saints. A single from Braden Paganelli scored both Dane Smitz and Braden Nawrocki. Paganelli then advanced to second on the throw home. With runners on second and third, Nick Brzezinski singled to center field scoring Michael Maher and Paganelli.
Brzezinski then walked in to make the score 10-1. Two more scores by Nathan Hughes and Alec Lockwood on a single from Ryan Gillings made the score 12-1. AQ held a large lead heading into the bottom of the inning. The Pilots responded with three hits and scored six to make it a 12-7 AQ advantage.
The Saints and the Pilots each scored two more before heading into the eighth inning (14-9 AQ). Aquinas tallied five more runs in the eighth to Bethel's one run total to clinch the big 19-10 win for the Saints. The loss drops Bethel to a 5-21 overall record.
Nawrocki led the Saints hitting 3-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Nawrocki hit a double and posted two stolen bases. Also hitting 3-4 was Sean Wing, who totaled three runs and two stolen bases. Brzezinski hit 2-4 and recorded four RBIs and two runs.
Hughes hit 1-1 getting walked twice, and added a run and an RBI. Hitting 1-2 was Alex Strickland, Paganelli, and Gillings. Gillings finished with three RBIs while Paganelli tallied two. Colin Smith earned the win on the mound for the Saints allowing two hits in his two innings pitched and had two strikeouts. Mason Hill pitched three innings allowing no hits in the nine batters he faced, and added two strikeouts.
The Saints return to the field this Sunday (Mar. 28) as AQ hosts Lawrence Tech in a big WHAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at the WMSC Sports Complex.
