The women's softball team was busy the previous two day, competing in four games with three happening today, March 14. The Saints were able to pick up three victories and improve their record to 12-7 this season in route to setting school records.

Izzy Dawson entered the season needing 11 hits to break AQ's all-time hits record held by Ashley Aspinall (2006-09) with 242. With a double in the top of the first inning against IUPUC, the graduate student from Canton, Mich., surpassed Aspinall to become the new Saints' career hits leader.

And the Saints' 12th win this season, marked the 200th victory for head coach Brad Koch at Aquinas. He now bolsters an overall record of 200-88 (.694 win percentage).

Monday: Aquinas 5, St. Thomas 0

Aquinas got on the scoreboard first after a two-out rally in the top of the first period. Taylor Charon stayed hot and started the rally with a single through second base. An error on the next at-bat put Leah Vaughan on first and advanced Charon to second. With Jessica Dobias up to bat, Charon stole third. During that same at-bat, Vaughan was caught stealing second, but not before Charon managed to cross home plate to give AQ a 1-0 lead.

Leah Ash was inside the circle for the Saints to start the game and quickly got through the first three innings, allowing just three total base runners.

The Saints padded their lead in the top of the fourth inning after Vaughan started the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Dobias followed that with a single through the right side of the infield to put runners on first and second. Vaughan and Dobias successfully pulled off a double steal to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Alexa Kownacki and Kim Sosnowski both grounded out on the ensuing at-bats, but they both picked up an RBI to give AQ a 3-0 advantage.

Ash continued dealing inside the circle, striking out three batters in the fourth and fifth innings as the Bobcats struggled to get any offense going.

Dawson brought Kaelyn Stafford across home in the top of the sixth inning with a single to boost AQ's lead to four.

Saint Thomas looked to finally create a good scoring opportunity with one out in the sixth inning, loading the bases with just one out. However, Aquinas got the lead runner out at home on a ground ball for the second out of the inning. A clutch strikeout from Ash got the Saints out of the jam and kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard.

Courtney Hardin hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the top of the seventh for an extra insurance run. Ash then proceeded to finish out her stellar pitching performance with two groundouts and another strikeout to make AQ's 5-0 victory official.

The Saints outhit the Bobcats 8-3 with eight different Saints picking up hits. Ash finished her seven-inning performance allowing no runs, just three hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

Tuesday, Game 1: Ave Maria 3, Aquinas 2

To begin the action on Tuesday, the Saints faced off against the Florida based Ave Maria at 11:30 AM. Kayla Fessenden would start on the mound for the Saints. In the bottom of the of the first inning, AQ would find runners on second and third when a Gyrene would hit a single up the middle to drive in one run. The Saints would escape the inning with minimal damage done.

In the second, Jaden Benschoter and Stafford would find themselves on first and second after being walked by Ave Maria's pitcher. Carson Hendrickson would then hit a single through the left side and would advance to second on the throw and driving in Benchoter. Emma Houseman would then hit a single and advance to second on the throw to drive in Stafford. Ave Maria would switch out their pitcher and retire two Saints to end the inning.

Later in the fourth with two outs, Ave Maria would score two runs to put themselves back up. Ash would replace Fessenden to retire the final batter.

The two teams would go back and forth for the remaining innings with neither scoring, as the final score would read 3-2 in favor of the Gyrenes.

Fessenden would be tagged with the loss after pitching 3.2 innings. She allowed six hits and three runs while accruing three strikeouts. Ash would pitch the final 2.1 innings not allowing a hit, while notching four strike outs.

Game 2: Aquinas 10, Dallas Christian 0 (Five Innings)
The Saints would get to redeem themselves in the second game of the day when they took on Dallas Christian. The Saints massive first inning would prove too much for the Crusaders, as the Saints would eventually mercy rule the Crusaders.

Hardin would reach first on a walk to start the bottom of the first off for the Saints and would steal second before Haley Myers reached first on an error. The duo would each steal to the next base. AQ would have two batters strike out before they would consistently connect with the bats. Dobias would double to left field driving in Myers and Hardin. Sosnowski would then single to left field, allowing Dobias to score to make it 3-0 AQ. After Ashley Snyder was walked, Hendricks would single to load the bases for AQ. After the Crusaders switched out their pitcher, Hallee Holman would double to left field and send all three on-base Saints home. Before the inning ended, Hardin would return to the plate with a single to left field, allowing Holman to score.

In the second, Charon would score on an unearned run after Snyder grounded out too short to put AQ up 8-0. Then in the bottom of the third, Hardin and Myers would be back on the bases together, when Charon would hit a single to left field driving both in. The two teams would play the final inning and a half before the mercy rule came into effect as the Saints won 10-0.

Ash would improve her record to 6-2 after being awarded the W. She would pitch three innings and allowed three hits. Nina Bennett would pitch the final two innings only allowing one hit.

Game 3: Aquinas 3, IUPUC 2
At 7:00 p.m. the Saints would play their final game of the day against the Crimson Pride of IUPUC. After the Crimson Pride jumped out to an early lead, AQ would rally for the comeback win.

IUPUC would score their first run in the bottom of the first on a double to center field that would allow one to score unearned before making it out of the inning. The second run for the Pride would come in the third on another double, this time to center to drive in another run. This would put the Saints down two.

AQ would retaliate in the fifth though when Hardin was walked and Benschoter reached first on an error from the short stop. With one out and two Saints on base, Kownacki would triple to left field driving in both Saints before the Crimson Pride would close out the inning.

Entering the seventh, AQ would have Vaughan, Houseman, and Kownacki all on base, when Stafford was walked to bring in the winning run. The Saints were able to hold off the Crimson Tide in the bottom of the seventh to win the day.

Grace Maguire would pitch 6.1 innings allowing four hits and two runs with two strikeouts. Fessenden would return to close the last two outs of the game with one being a strikeout.

AQ returns to action Thursday (Mar. 16) with another triple header. Competition begins at 9 a.m. against IU-South Bend.