Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Saints surpassed the 30-win plateau for the sixth time in the last eight seasons under the leadership of head coach Brad Koch yesterday (Apr. 18). The Saints won both games in comeback fashion to win their 30th and 31st games of the season. Game two was a fair bit more dramatic as Aquinas erased a four-run deficit in the seventh inning to be able to win the contest in extras.

Game 1: Aquinas 7, Kalamazoo 2

The Hornets were the first to strike after scoring two runs on two hits and an error. AQ stranded five runners in the first and second inning combined but finally broke through in the top of the third frame. Kaelyn Stafford hit a double down the left-field line to bring in two runs to tie the game at 2-2.

Neither team was able to get a hit in the fourth, but the Aquinas bats were working again in the top of the fifth. McKayla Mott, Darrien Roberts, and Stafford hit three consecutive one-out singles to load up the bases. Jaden Benschoter hit one run in, but two critical Hornet errors helped the Saints bring three more in to take a 6-2 lead.

Stafford made the lead five runs in the ensuing inning as she hit another double to stay hot in game one. She batted 3-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in game one.

Kalamazoo put a runner on in both the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to generate any significant offensive opportunities against the AQ pitching. Sophia Pavese pitched the first six innings and allowed just the two runs and four hits for her 11th win of the season. Sydney Bosgraaf pitched the final inning and allowed just one hit and struck out two.

Game 2: Aquinas 11, Kalamazoo 10 (8 Innings)

 Once again, Kzoo struck first with a successful small ball in the bottom of the first. AQ immediately responded in the top of the second to tie the game with doubles from Mallory Buikema and Jaden Delchambre.

The Hornets added another two runs before AQ responded again with another Delchambre RBI. However, the hosts extended their lead to four after a three-run home run. The Saints got one run back, but Kalamazoo College negated the AQ run with another of its own to take a 7-3 lead after five innings.

AQ looked destined for a split heading into the seventh inning, but those plans quickly changed. Hits from Kim Sosnowski, Stafford, and Mott scored an Aquinas run. AQ grounded out for out one but hits from Courtney Hardin and Elizabeth Haunhorst brought the Saints within just one run with two runners on base.

The Saints potential comeback must have rattled the Hornets a bit as they committed three consecutive errors to give AQ the lead for the first time this game. Aquinas battled all the way through the order to bring Sosnowski back up to bat and she hit in one more run with a sacrifice fly.

Aquinas immediately generated two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Hornets put together a two-out rally with a triple, single, and double to tie the game at nine and take it to extra innings.

A similar situation occurred in the AQ half of the eighth. Kalamazoo forced two quick outs, but Hardin doubled and Ashley Snyder singled to bring a pair of runs home. The Saints needed that second run in the eighth as Kalamazoo scored on a sacrifice fly with two outs. The Hornets looked to possibly start another two-out rally, but a groundout to the pitcher secured the comeback win for AQ.

Grace Maguire started the game in the circle and reentered later on to secure her 12th win of the season. Bosgraaf pitched very well in relief again, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings pitched with four punchouts.

By the Numbers

The Saints crushed the ball all day, tallying 26 hits to KC's 17. AQ also stole four bases on five attempts and struck out 11 batters.

Stafford continued to play well into the second game, finishing the series 5/7 with three doubles and a team-leading four RBIs.

Sosnowski, Delchambre, Mott, and Haunhorst all had three-hit days against the Hornets.

Up Next

The Saints have an important weekend ahead of themselves with doubleheaders against UNOH and Indiana Tech. UNOH is in second place on the WHAC standings and Indiana Tech is in fourth.