Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Saints celebrated their nine seniors before today's (Apr. 13) doubleheader against UM-Dearborn. Darrien Roberts, Kim Sosnowski, Courtney Hardin, Leah Vaughan, Kaelyn Stafford, Grace Maguire, Haley Myers, Ashley Snyder, and Elizabeth Haunhorst were all honored prior to the first game and took the field for a full senior team.

Senior Day was nearly as flawless as the results of the two games today as AQ put its 27th and 28th wins on the record and has now won seven consecutive conference games. Aquinas is now 28-6 on the season with a 10-2 conference record.

Game 1: Aquinas 3, UM-Dearborn 2 (8 Innings)

Myers did what she does best to start the game and got on base with a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first. She then stole second and scored the first run of the contest after an RBI single from Katie Carlson. Dearborn found a rebuttal in the top of the second with a pair of singles and an error to tie the game at one.

The Wolverines then took the lead in the top of the third frame after a well-executed squeeze play to bring a runner home for a 2-1 lead. Grace Maguire prevented any more damage with an important punch out, followed by a groundout to get out of the jam.

Similar to the Cornerstone games earlier this week, this game came down to the wire with a lot of suspense and drama. AQ put runners on base every inning after the fourth but could not quite bring a runner home until the bottom of the seventh inning.

With the game on the line, Carson Hendrickson hit a leadoff single. Jessica Dobias pinch ran for her and immediately stole second base. Alexa Kownacki proved to be the hero once again as she hit Dobias home from second to tie up the game at 2-2. Myers singled to put two runners on with just one out, but the Wolverines managed to force a popout and a flyout to get out of the inning.

Maguire continued her strong outing into the eighth inning and retired the side to give AQ the chance to walk off its third consecutive game. Hardin hit a leadoff double and Jaden Benschoter singled to put two runners on with one out. Jaden Delchambre was hit by a pitch to load up the bases before Emma Houseman was the one to get swarmed after hitting a walk-off single to end the game.

Maguire improved to 11-2 on the season with an impressive complete-game performance. She allowed just seven hits, two walks, and two earned runs over eight innings.

Game 2: Aquinas 8, UM-Dearborn 3

The Saints got the bats going to start the second game after a one-two-three inning from Sydney Bosgraaf in the circle. Hits from Myers and Houseman put two runners on base to set up a three-run home run from Katie Carlson, her fourth of the season. Hardin then proceeded to rip a double into left field and Haunhorst hit her home to put four runs up on the scoreboard.

Hits from McKenna Hinkle and Carlson brought the AQ lead to five in the bottom of the second. The Wolverines managed to get one run back in the third, but Aquinas remained hot offensively. Hits from Roberts, Dobias, and Hendrickson scored a run and put two runners in scoring position. Kownacki grounded out to the shortstop but drove in another run in the process to put the Saints ahead 7-1.

Dearborn managed to finally drive in a pair of runs in the top of the fifth off of two hits and an error, but AQ once again had a response in the bottom of the fifth. Haunhorst walked before Dobias hit a double and Hendrickson hit her home for the eighth run of the contest.

Vaughan took over pitching duties in the sixth inning after five productive innings from Bosgraaf. Vaughan allowed no hits and struck out three Wolverines to close out another win for AQ.

By the Numbers

Neither team was caught stealing today, but AQ stole 10 bases to UMD's four. The Saints also outhit the Wolverines by a margin of 21-12.

Carlson had a team-leading five RBIs after a 3/7 day at the plate. 12 different Saints recorded hits with Roberts (3), Houseman (2), Dobias (2), Hardin (2), Hendrickson (2), and Myers (2) all posting multiple hits.

So far this season, the Aquinas pitching has been stellar. AQ's pitching has a team ERA of just 2.28 through 34 games.

Up Next

The Saints are back at Cornerstone tomorrow (Apr. 14) for an important doubleheader against Madonna. The Crusaders sit at 12-0 in conference play this season while the Saints are 10-2. A sweep over Madonna would move AQ into first place in the WHAC.

The series is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. on the Cornerstone Softball Field.