Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Saints took on Cornerstone this afternoon (Apr. 10) in their annual Strikeout Cancer doubleheader against the Golden Eagles. AQ competed in a pair of defensive battles that went down to the wire. The Saints tied the game in the sixth inning of game one before walking it off in the seventh. Game two had just as much drama as Aquinas scored three runs in the seventh to walk it off again.
The Saints continue to find ways to win as they are now on a five-game win streak with a 26-6 record.
Game 1: Aquinas 2, Cornerstone 1
The Golden Eagles broke the silence early with a solo home run down the left-field line in the top of the first inning.
Haley Myers earned a leadoff hit in the bottom of the frame, but AQ was unable to generate any runs off of the hit.
Kaelyn Stafford recorded the only other hit by either team until the sixth inning as both teams played great defense. The Golden Eagles put two runners on base in the top of the sixth, but
Grace Maguire generated a flyout and a strikeout to keep Aquinas within one run.
CU picked up two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, but
Courtney Hardin started a rally with a double and
Elizabeth Haunhorst capitalized with a crucial hit down the left-field line to score Hardin and tie the game.
Maguire retired the side in the seventh, giving AQ the opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh. AQ would do just that.
Carson Hendrickson hit a double into right field and
Alexa Kownacki put the ball into the outfield to score Hendrickson.
Maguire earned her 10th win of the season with an impressive performance. She allowed just three hits and one run while striking out seven Golden Eagles.
Game 2: Aquinas 3, Cornerstone 1
The stout defense and pitching from both teams continued into the next game. CU broke the 0-0 score with another solo home run to take an early lead. The Saints managed to put runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to bring anybody home.
Cornerstone managed to string a double and a single together in the top of the sixth to double its lead to two. A quick one-two-three inning for Aquinas in the bottom of the frame gave the Saints just one more inning to build some momentum.
Sydney Bosgraaf relieved
Sophia Pavese in the top of the seventh after six strong innings from the Kalamazoo Valley transfer. Bosgraaf generated two popouts and a flyout to keep the game within two runs.
A CU error started the final half-inning as Hendrickson was able to reach on a would-be out.
Leah Vaughan and
McKayla Mott both singled to score one run and cut the deficit to just one run. Myers executed a sacrifice bunt to move two runners into scoring position.
The suspense intensified when AQ struck out to put two outs on the scoreboard, but
Katie Carlson delivered with a two-out single through the middle of the infield to walk off another win.
Bosgraaf earned her fourth win of the season while Pavese allowed just two runs over six innings in the circle.
By the Numbers
These two wins increase Aquinas' win streak against Cornerstone to seven games. The Saints are now 41-11 against the Golden Eagles dating back to 2006.
Hendrickson and Carlson both picked up two hits on what was a quiet day offensively for both teams.
Up Next
The Saints will be celebrating both Christy's Cause and Senior Day on Saturday (Apr. 13) at the Gainey Athletic Complex. The games against UM-Dearborn are scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.
