The Aquinas baseball team hosted Bethel in a big 9-inning non-conference matchup at the WMSC Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 21). The Saints' strong offense carried them past the Pilots to earn the huge 16-1 victory. The win improves AQ to a 19-18 overall record.
The first score for the Saints was Nathan Hughes on a Bethel error to crack open the Aquinas offense. Another error by the Pilots on a Braden Nawrocki grounder scored Hughes. Kelvin Aracena singled to earn an RBI and gave AQ the quick 3-0 jump over the Pilots in the first, and it was Aquinas the rest of the way.
A Hughes single in the bottom of the second scored two runs for two RBIs and gave the Saints a 5-0 lead. Nawrocki earned an RBI on a fielder's choice to bat in Hughes at third. A Nathan Wilcox triple just after scored two more for AQ, and Mark Binkowski doubled down the right field line to earn Aquinas the huge 9-0 advantage after the second inning. To recap, AQ scored six runs on five hits (with one error for Bethel).
Each team was scoreless until the sixth inning as Bethel tallied one on an RBI single through the left side. AQ, foregoing the mercy rule, notched seven more runs in the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth, pitcher Travis Keys earned an RBI with a single to right field, scoring Max Vicari. Pinch hitter Anthony Arnold also notched a double in the bottom of the inning.
Aquinas closed the game after the top of the ninth with a big 16-1 score. The loss moves Bethel to a 13-31 overall record. AQ's Michael Casterline (3-1) earned the win on the mound for the Saints allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. Also posting three strikeouts was Ben Snider and Colin Smith.
Alex Strickland hit 3-3 on the day with a run while Hughes hit 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Wilcox batted 2-4, tallying two RBIs, a run, and a triple. Nawrocki earned RBIs as did Lucas Weinert. Vicari batted 1-2 and posted three runs for the Saints. Chris Suriel Garcia notched a triple in today's contest for AQ. Aquinas earned 18 hits today and recorded just one error defensively.
The Saints return to action tomorrow (Apr. 22) as AQ hosts Lourdes in a big non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM at the WMSC Sports Complex.
