The Aquinas softball team hosted Concordia in the last regular season doubleheader, facing the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon (May 1st) for a series of celebrations including senior day. AQ and CUAA split in the series as Aquinas fell in game one (1-0) before taking the second game, 4-2.
The Saints started Kayla Fessenden (9-1) on the mound, who pitched four innings. Fessenden posted four strikeouts on the day, but got dealt the loss after the only run in the contest was posted by Concordia in the top of the third inning. Fessenden's perfect 9-0 was ended after a walk and a double by CUAA scored one to earn the Cardinals the 1-0 lead.
Relieving Fessenden was Leah Ash who pitched the last three innings for the Saints and also tallied four strikeouts. Ash allowed just three hits in three innings. CUAA closed out game one and earned the 1-0 win.
Darrien Roberts and Courtney Hardin both notched a double in the first game. Tallying singles were Izzy Dawson and Jordan Humitz.
In game two, Leah Vaughan (6-3) started and finished the game on the mound for AQ. Vaughan earned the win, facing 28 batters, recording 14 fly outs or ground outs, and posting seven strikeouts.
AQ's first score came in the bottom of the second as Taylor Borkowski singled to left center to score Kaelyn Stafford. The Saints and Cardinals battled back and forth until CUAA tallied a run in the top of the fifth.
With the score tied at one run a piece, an AQ error and a sac bunt put a runner on second for the Cardinals in the top of the sixth. A double scored the runner for the 2-1 Cardinal lead. Aquinas lead off batter, I. Dawson, walked before junior Jordan Humitz homered to left field to earn the lead (3-2) back. A Haley Aldred single through the left side to score Hardin extended the lead to two runs.
A three up, three down top of the seventh earned AQ the huge 4-2 victory. The split moves Concordia to a 24-21 overall record, 10-8 WHAC. The split moves Aquinas to a 25-9 overall record, 16-4 WHAC. AQ remains high in the conference standings and are awaiting final results until all of the conference teams conclude play.
AQ's only double in the second was Borkowski, who hit 1-3 with an RBI. Notching singles in game two were Brianna Pastor, Kallie Sears, Hardin, Roberts, and Aldred. Humitz hit 1-3 with the home run for two RBIs and a run.
The Saints honored six seniors today from this year's 2021 class and three from last year's 2020 season. AQ will graduate Brooke Wila, Natalie VanDerHaegen, Leigha Morse, Sydney Dawson, Sears, and Borkowski. Last year's players that were honored were Jordan Buckingham, Mia Loya, and Marisa Loya.
The Saints return to play on Wednesday as the WHAC Tournament begins and will be played May 5th through May 7th at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, Ohio. AQ awaits seeding as well as the days and times of games.
