Davenport, Iowa – The Saints started their 2024 season today (Feb. 24) with a pair of dominant performances. Aquinas crushed Judson 12-0 after an eight-run first inning and then went on to top the Saint Ambrose Fighting Bees 3-1. Pitching from Grace Maguire, Sydney Bosgraaf, and Sophia Pavese allowed an impeccable total of just three hits across two games.  

AQ is a perfect 2-0 to start the year while Judson falls to 0-4 and Saint Ambrose drops to 7-3.

Game 1: Aquinas 12, Judson 0 (5 Innings)

Maguire started the contest and retired the side before the Saints came up to the plate and torched the ball. McKenna Hinkle walked and then immediately stole second for Emma Houseman to smack a double into left field for the first run of the game. Following the Houseman double, a double from Courtney Hardin, a Darrien Roberts single, a Haley Myers single, a Kaelyn Stafford single, a Leah Vaughan single, a Hinkle triple, and another Houseman double resulted in eight runs for Aquinas. AQ totaled nine hits in the inning once everything was settled.

Judson managed to record its only hit of the contest in the top of the second before Carson Hendrickson walked and Katie Carlson hit her home to make the score 9-0. Carlson ripped a triple down the right-field line for her first collegiate hit.

Aquinas added three more runs in the bottom of the third to ensure the mercy. With two outs, Houseman walked to reach base for the third time this game. Hardin then hit her second double of the game to put two runners in scoring position with Roberts stepping into the box. AQ's new cleanup hitter lived up to her role, crushing her 20th career home run and giving AQ a 12-run lead.

 Maguire left the circle in the top of the fifth inning after an incredible four innings of pitching. Bosgraaf took her place and picked up right where Maguire left off. In her first collegiate appearance, Bosgraaf struck out three batters and walked just one to complete the combined one-hitter.

Maguire and Bosgraaf put on a pitching clinic against the Eagles this game, allowing just a single hit and walking just one batter across five innings. Maguire struck out five across four innings while Bosgraaf struck out all three of her outs in the fifth.

Game 2: Aquinas 3, Saint Ambrose 1

Aquinas nearly struck early again after Hardin and Roberts singled to put two runners on base with two outs. The Fighting Bees escaped the inning with no damage done and then played successful small ball in the bottom of the frame to take a 1-0 lead.

Very impressive pitching from both teams kept the next few innings quiet until the top of the fifth. The speedy Hinkle singled to left field before advancing to second and then third on a passed ball and wild pitch. Kim Sosnowski recorded her first hit of the season to hit Hinkle home to tie the game at one.

Pavese continued to deal for the Saints as the transfer from Kalamazoo Valley CC responded in a big way after allowing a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth. She struck out two batters and forced a groundout to keep the score tied.

The Saints finally got the runs they needed in the top of the sixth. A Haley Myers single and walks from Roberts and MaKayla Mott loaded the bases with two outs. Alexa Kownacki pinch hit and gave the Saints a two-run lead after singling to center field to bring in two runs.

Pavese closed out the game with back-to-back three up, three down innings to give AQ two wins to start the year. She pitched a gem, going the distance while allowing just one run on two hits and striking out five batters.

By the Numbers

Roberts had a stellar start to her senior year, recording four hits on six at-bats with a home run.

Hinkle also had a great start to the season as she recorded three hits over five at-bats while stealing two bases.

Roberts, Houseman, Hinkle, Myers, Hardin, Kownacki, Sosnowski and Carlson are all batting at least .400 after the first two games. The team as a whole is batting .396 while allowing an average of just .079.

Up Next

The Saints will be looking to take this momentum into tomorrow's (Feb. 25) doubleheader as Aquinas takes on Judson again at 11:45 a.m. and then battles Mount Mercy at 4:15 p.m.