Grand Rapids, Mich. – The AQ softball team continued the Strikeout Cancer series today (Apr. 7) after the second game on Monday was suspended due to weather. The game started with a 0-0 score in the second inning.

The red-hot Saints continued their winning ways with a 4-0 win today thanks to a dominant game from Kayla Fessenden in which she allowed just two hits. AQ is now 13-2 over the last 15 games and boasts a perfect 6-0 conference record and a 23-9 overall record. CU falls to 10-12 on the year with a 4-4 WHAC record.

Inning number one started on Monday with a weird identical series of events for both teams. Both AQ and CU had a runner reach base, steal second, and advance to third on a wild pitch. Neither runner managed to score, leaving the game at 0-0 as the match was suspended entering the second inning.

The second inning began today and flew by with solid defense and pitching from both teams. Emma Houseman started the third inning with a triple to right field to get the AQ bats going. Darrien Roberts walked and then McKenna Hinkle pinch ran for her and stole second, leaving runners on second and third with one out. Izzy Dawson grounded out to the shortstop on the ensuing at-bat but picked up an RBI as Houseman scored to give AQ a 1-0 advantage.

Haley Myers hit a two-out single in the top of the fourth inning and proceeded to steal second. The catcher overthrew second base allowing Myers to reach third. She then rounded third and headed home as an error from the center fielder allowed her to score and double the Aquinas lead.

Excellent small ball from the Saints allowed the visitors to score a third run in the top of the fifth frame. Dawson kicked off the inning with a double to center field. Sydney VanDerHaegen pinch ran for Dawson on second as Taylor Charon advanced VanDerHaegen to third with a sacrifice bunt. Jaden Benschoter grounded out to the second baseman but allowed VanDerHaegen to score.

Jessica Dobias got on base right away in the top of the sixth inning with a walk. A Myers single put runners on first and second with no outs. AQ then pulled off a rare double steal with both Dobias and Myers swiping a bag on the play. The small ball allowed AQ to score another run after Houseman picked up an RBI groundout to second base to score Dobias.

Fessenden impressed inside the circle the whole game a quick one-two-three inning in the sixth maintained the four-run lead. She then forced two quick groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the seventh to give AQ the win. The win improves her record this season to 7-5 and gives her two complete-game shutout victories. She allowed just two hits and three walks throughout the game with seven strikeouts.

Dawson ended the game going 2-4 at the plate with a double. Myers went 2-3 with a run and a team-leading two stolen bases.

As a team, the Saints had an impressive nine stolen bases throughout the game.

Aquinas has a quick turnaround as it is scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow (Apr. 8) against Cleary. The doubleheader will begin at 11:00 AM at the Davenport University Farmer's Insurance Athletic Complex.