Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Saints took on the Indiana Tech Warriors this afternoon (Apr. 21). Aquinas just trailed the Warriors in the WHAC standings entering today, trailing only because of a marginally lower win percentage. Ultimately, nothing really changed at the top of the standings as AQ split with Indiana Tech to remain in fifth place.

Game 1: Indiana Tech 1, Aquinas 0

The first and only run of the seven-inning game came in the bottom of the first inning. Indiana Tech reached second on a leadoff single and advanced to second off of an Aquinas error in the outfield. A hit on the next at-bat drove the run home.

AQ recorded its first hit in the fifth inning when Katie Carlson hit a double down the right field line and then advanced to third with just one out. However, Aquinas was unable to get her home as the score remained 1-0.

McKenna Hinkle recorded the other hit in the top of the sixth and the Saints got her around to third with successful small ball. Elizabeth Haunhorst couldn't quite bring the run in as she popped up to second base to end the inning. A one-two-three inning in the seventh concluded the contest 1-0.

Game 2: Aquinas 6, Indiana Tech 5

Once again, the Warriors found themselves in the lead after the first inning, but AQ had a response in game two. Darrien Roberts and Jessica Dobias started the inning with singles before a Carson Hendrickson flyout allowed Aquinas to put runners on the corners. The Saints successfully executed a double steal to bring their first run of the day home.

The back-and-forth action continued as IT reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second before Aquinas took its first lead of the day in the top of the third. A walk from Haley Myers, hits from Courtney Hardin and Katie Carlson, and a couple of Warrior errors allowed the Saints to take a 3-2 lead. Indiana Tech then scored off of a solo home run in the third to tie the game at three.

Following a quick fourth inning, the AQ bats were rolling again in the fifth. Kim Sosnowski, Hardin, Roberts, and Dobias all singled to score a run and load the bases. Hendrickson then hit a sacrifice fly for a two-run advantage.

The Warriors kept the game close by getting a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Aquinas still held a one-run lead at the start of the seventh. Carlson increased that lead to two with her fifth home run of the season, sending the ball over the center field wall.

AQ needed that extra run as a single and a double in the bottom of the seventh brought IT within just one run, but a strikeout ended the game with the runner stranded in scoring position.

By the Numbers

Both teams were evenly matched as IT held slim advantages in hits (14-13) and batting average (.280-.255). Aquinas was far more aggressive on the base paths with six steals to IT's two.

Sophia Pavese now has a team-leading 13 wins this season with positive results each of the last two days. She pitched all seven innings today and tallied five more strikeouts. Grace Maguire pitched game one and was given a tough loss decision once again. She allowed just one run over six innings with six strikeouts.

Roberts and Carlson led the team with three hits apiece while Dobias and Hardin both had two.

Up Next

The Saints don't have a lot of time to rest as they will be hosting doubleheaders against Olivet on Tuesday (Apr. 23) and against Siena Heights on Wednesday (Apr. 24).