The #14 Aquinas softball team hosted Cleary in a make-up WHAC doubleheader on Wednesday (Apr. 27) at Jenison High School. The Cougars took a game one win that featured nine errors between both teams and an 11-9 score, while the Saints secured an 11-3 game two affair that lasted six innings. AQ now has a record of 32-10 (12-6 WHAC) on the season and CU stands at 15-31 (4-14 WHAC) in 2022.

GAME 1: Cleary 11, Aquinas 9

The Cougars opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a double that brought in two runs to score. However, the Saints had a fantastic response as Courtney Hardin, Darrien Roberts, and Izzy Dawson hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs for the 3-2 lead. This was Hardin's seventh, Dawson's fourth, and Roberts' fourth home runs on the season. 

The lead was further extended to 5-2 in the second inning as Roberts hit a double off the left center field wall to bring around Kim Sosnowski and Leah Vaughan. Cleary would go on to take the lead back by scoring seven straight runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings that was highlighted by a grand slam in the fourth.

Leah Ash pitched the first three and two-thirds innings, but ended up receiving a no decision. She allowed eight runs (three earned) on 10 hits, two walks, and some errors on the AQ defense, while striking out five.

Another comeback was on in the fifth as the Saints were able to tie the game back up at nine. The first run came on a CU error, but then Vaughan doubled down the left field line to score two runs and Emma Houseman scored the game tying run on a wild pitch.

Nina Bennett (2-1) came in for Ash in the fourth to throw the next two and a third innings, but ended up taking the loss after failing to record an out in the seventh inning. In total, she gave up two runs on three hits with a strikeout. Kayla Fessenden came in to try and keep the Cougars off the scoreboard, but allowed a hit that scored a run on Bennett's line and one of her own. After Fessenden got one out, Grace Maguire got the final two for AQ, but the damage was already done. 

Hardin, Roberts, and Vaughan all ended up with two hits a piece with Roberts plating three runs and Vaughan driving in two.

GAME 2: Aquinas 11, Cleary 3 (6 innings)

Again, Cleary was able to jump on top of Aquinas with two runs in the first inning to claim the first lead of the ball game. Dawson cut that lead in half with her second home run of the day in the third inning. CU was able to get that run back in the fourth on a single, but this would be the last run they scored in the game.

AQ took a 5-3 lead by the end of the fifth inning and did not look back for the win. Another error by the Cougars let a run cross the plate, but Dawson continued her big day with another home run that counted as two with Roberts also scoring. Carson Hendrickson would double in the next at bat and eventually scored by moving up twice on CU wild pitches.

The Saints ended the game in the sixth via the run rule by scoring another six runs. Kaelyn Stafford's team-leading eighth home run this year scored one run and then Hardin, Roberts, and Dawson proceed to load the bases with one out. Jordan Humitz came through with a two-RBI single and the Stafford came up again to plate the final two runs on another base hit.

Fessenden (13-4) battled her way to a victory after surrendering three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts.

Dawson was a perfect 3-3 with three runs scored and three RBI, while Stafford collected a couple of hits as well as another three RBI. 

Aquinas will play its final home doubleheader in a top-20 match-up against #20 Madonna on Friday (Apr. 29). Playing at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, the games will begin at 3:00 PM with senior day festivities preceding the games.