Melbourne, Fla. — The Aquinas softball team continued its winning ways on Thursday (Mar. 16) with three wins over IU-South Bend, (RV) Missouri Baptist and Clarke at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, Fla.

The Saints have now stringed together five wins in a row over the last three days to be 15-7 overall.

Game 1: Aquinas 2, IU-South Bend 1

Pitching prevailed in a low-scoring, every run counts early morning affair. Aquinas scored both of its runs in the second inning. The Saints only finished with three hits, but the two RBI knocks in the frame made all the difference. Kaelyn Stafford tripled to left field to bring in Jessica Dobias, who drew a walk to lead-off the inning, and Haley Myers delivered with a run-scoring single to left field as well to bring in Stafford.

Darrien Roberts had AQ's third and final hit in the third inning with another base hit into left field.

Saints starting pitcher Kayla Fessenden lasted six strong innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and tossed five strikeouts. IU-South Bend (7-13 overall) scored its lone run in the sixth with an RBI infield base hit. Fessenden pitched out the inning with two runners left on base before turning the game over to Leah Ash for the seventh inning.

Ash shutdown the Titans in order to earn her first save of the season. The senior hurler closed out the game with back-to-back strikeouts.

Dobias and Emma Houseman each stole bases for AQ in the win.

Game 2: Aquinas 3, (RV) Missouri Baptist 2 (8 Innings)

Playing in their first extra-inning game of the season, the Saints eked out a come-from-behind result to knock off a competitive team on the verge of being ranked.

Missouri Baptist (12-9-1 overall) scored first in the third inning on an RBI single back up the middle off AQ starter Ash. The Saints countered with a two-out RBI single by Kim Sosnowski the following inning to even the score at 1-1. 

Sosnowski was the only Saint to record multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Spartans played small ball in the sixth inning to regain the lead. MBU got two runs on with a single and an intentional walk, and both moved up to second and third base with a successful double steal. With one out, Natalie Archer laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.

AQ forced extra innings when Houseman scored on a throwing error with one out in the top of the seventh inning, and the Saints turned a 6-5-2 double play to prevent the Spartans from having a walk-off win in the bottom half.

Izzy Dawson, who just became AQ's all-time leader in hits on Tuesday, provided what turned out to be the game-winning knock for the Saints in the eighth with an RBI single through the left side. MBU stranded its extra-inning runner, who starts the frame on second base, 60 feet from home plate.

Ash pitched all eight innings for her fifth complete game this year and improved to 7-2 overall. She threw a career-high 10 strikeouts, lowered her season ERA to 1.35 and bolsters a solid .88 WHIP.

Game 3: Aquinas 6, Clark 3

The Saints four-game winning streak looked in jeopardy when Clarke jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings. But, AQ locked in with a four-run fourth inning to turn things around. Sosnowski and Roberts each came through with RBI singles before Dawson and Stafford patiently drew bases loaded walks to give the Saints a 4-3 lead.

Dawson doubled to left field to score Roberts and Hardin in the sixth inning, capping the scoring at 6-3. It was Dawson's 57th career double, which ties her with Ashley Aspinall (2006-09) for the most in the program's history.

Aquinas scored six runs on six hits, while Clarke (6-5 overall) only notched three runs on 10 hits and left seven runners on base.

Grace Maguire went 5 1/3 innings for the Saints to pick up the win. She remains unbeaten on the season with a 5-0 record. Fessenden pitched the last 1 2/3 innings to nab her second save of the season.

The Saints continued their Spring Break Trip action on Friday (Mar. 17) with a pair of games against teams they have already played down in Florida. AQ will see Hannibal-LaGrange again at 11:30 a.m. and then hold a rematch against Clarke at 2 p.m.