The Aquinas softball team hosted Indiana tech for the first WHAC contest of the season on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 27). The Saints' big bats carried them to a big 8-0 five-inning win in the first game of the series, with Leah Ash pitching a one-hitter. Aquinas edged the Warriors in a hard fought second game, winning 3-2 and advancing to a 9-3 overall record, and tallying two conference wins.
Aquinas didn't waste any time, scoring two in the bottom of the first. After Brooke Wila and stole second, Izzy Dawson batted one to left field for a base hit, scoring Wila. After two more Saints reached and loaded the bases, I. Dawson then scored on a wild pitch. The Warriors were able to close the inning with AQ leading 2-0.
Right away in the bottom of the second, Aquinas came out swinging again. With Kallie Sears on second, I. Dawson singled to center scoring Sears. Jordan Humitz then singled. Darrien Roberts singled, scoring I. Dawson on third (4-0). Courtney Hardin reached on an error by the Warriors shortstop. With the bases loaded, Leigha Morse took one yard, earning four RBIs and putting the Saints up 8-0.
The Saints and Warriors were scoreless the last three innings, earning AQ the big five-inning win 8-0. Pitcher Ash grabbed the win on the mound for the Saints as the Warriors only tabbed one hit in the fourth. I. Dawson finished 2-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Humitz went 2-2 while Morse went 1-1 with four RBIs.
In the second game, AQ struggled getting anything going until the third. In the bottom of the inning, Sydney Dawson singled to centerfield. An error by Indiana Tech's right fielder caused Haley Myers to reach third and score S. Dawson. I. Dawson then singled to left field, scoring Myers.
The Warriors responded scoring two on their own in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Kaelyn Stafford singled for the Saints. As Natalie VanDerHaegen singled to the shortstop, a bad throw caused Stafford to reach third. VanDerHaegen stole second, Stafford then scored on the throw down putting AQ up 3-2.
With the next three innings scoreless for either team, Aquinas claimed the huge 3-2 win over the Warriors. The losses drop Indiana Tech to 8-10 overall, and hand the Warriors their first conference losses (0-2). AQ pitcher Kayla Fessenden earned the win for the Saints.
S. Dawson led the Saints hitting 1-2 and posting a run. VanDerHaegen also went 1-2 while Stafford hit 1-3 and added a run. I. Dawson hit 1-3 for AQ in the second game. Leah Vaughan also pitched for the Saints and allowed just one hit and posted two strikeouts.
The Saints return to the field tomorrow (Mar. 28) as AQ hosts UNOH in a huge WHAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Cornerstone.
