Grand Rapids, Mich - This was a day of hits for both sets of Saints. With Siena Heights coming off the bus swinging, Aquinas had to work hard to come back in both games. Aquinas brought four home runs and five doubles to put many points on the board. Although the Saints put up quite the fight, they fell short on the day as Siena Heights picked up a pair of wins. 
 
This moves the Saints to 12-16 in the season and 4-6 in conference after today's contests.
 
Game 1: Siena Heights 9, Aquinas 6 (7 Innings)
 
Siena Heights set the bar high for scoring on this rainy game day. In the first inning, they brought in four runs on five hits, bringing the score to 4-0 just at the end of the first. 
 
Innings two and three were more of the same as Siena Heights was able to tack on three more runs. The Aquinas Saints had a few hits in the fourth inning with a hit up the middle from Luke LaCross, followed up by a double to the fence from Nathan Wilcox. The double brought LaCross in. Mark Binkowski hit a single to left center before the inning was done.
 
At the top of the fifth, Siena Heights earned another run, however, the Saints were able to counter that in the next inning. Nicolas Verdugo stole second to get into scoring position. LaCross hit a single up the middle, bringing Verdugo in. The score at the bottom of the fifth was Siena Heights 8, Aquinas 2.
 
The bottom of the sixth was a big inning for the Saints. Dawson Shearer started the inning with a single up the middle, followed by Ramsey Bousseau's single to left center. Verdugo at the plate had a double that brought Shearer in and put Bousseau on third. 
 
Chase Ingersoll doubled to left field, bringing in two runs. LaCross singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error from the catcher. Ingersoll scored on the throw. This rounded the inning off with four runs on five hits. 
 
In the top of the seventh, Siena Heights earned another run that rounded out the scoring for both teams. The final score was Siena Heights 9, Aquinas 6.
 
Game 2: Siena Heights 14, Aquinas 11 
 
Zach Marshall had two three up, three down innings to start the game for the Saints. The Saints got the first hit of the game in the second inning with a single by Binkowski down the left-field line. 
 
Siena Heights got a big jump in the top of the third. They were able to score four runs on four hits. Marshall struck out two batters to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Saints rolled in their first run, started by a walk from Ryan Gillings. Jayden Timmer ran for Gillings. Shearer clocked in a single to move Timmer to second. Bousseau hit a fly ball that allowed Timmer to tag up and advance to third. Verdugo then hit a single that pushed Timmer in to score, bringing the score to 4-1 Siena Heights.
 
Hits slowed down until the fifth, where Siena Heights added another run to the board and then in the sixth, they brought in two more. Saints countered this with a home run over the left field fence by Ingersoll. 
 
In the top of the eighth, Siena Heights pushed for three more runs on two hits. A triple by Siena Heights brought in two of those RBIs.
 
The Saints wouldn't let that go unpunished. Aquinas came back with a five-run inning in the bottom of the eighth. Verdugo had a home run to start AQ off. Siena Heights switched pitchers which led to Wilcox and Ingersoll being walked. Wilcox advanced to third on a fly ball. 
 
In a failed pickoff attempt at first, Wilcox and Ingersoll advanced on an error, scoring Wilcox. A wild pitch put Ingersoll on third. Aiden Schmuckal was walked before Siena Heights switched pitchers again. Landon Mueller pinch-ran for Schmuckal, stealing second. Gillings went up to the plate and put up a three-run home run. The score at the end of the eighth was Siena Heights 10, Aquinas 7.
 
Siena Heights didn't wait before they threw four more runs into the mix in the top of the ninth. The Saints matched that with four runs on three hits. Verdugo's double put the Saints on base. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilcox walked again and advanced to third on a double from LaCross that brought in Verdugo. On a ground out to second base, Wilcox scored and LaCross advanced. Binkowski sent a two-run home run over the right-field fence to bring in the fourth run of the inning. The late Aquinas was too little, too late as the game ended with a score of 14-11. 
 
By the Numbers
 
The Saints had four home runs between the two games against Siena Heights. Ingersoll, Verdugo, Gillings, and Binkowski offered those up. The Saints hit multiple doubles from Verdugo (2), Ingersoll, Wilcox, and LaCross. 
 
In the second game, Marshall put up seven strikeouts and Martin added four.
 
Up Next
 
Saints take on the Cornerstone Golden Eagles at Dewitt Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.