Howell, Mich. – With just six conference games remaining on the schedule prior to the Cleary games, Aquinas was looking to capitalize off the late-season stretch and build momentum heading into the WHAC Tournament. The Saints started their day with a win in the first game, but the Cougars foiled a late comeback bid in game two for a two-game split.
This keeps AQ at .500 in conference play with a 14-14 record. Aquinas holds its own fate in its hands as the Saints are currently in 7th place with two games in hand over 9th place Cleary.
Game 1: Aquinas 10, Cleary 3 (7 Innings)
The Saints crushed the ball in game one, recording an incredible 20 hits against the Cougars. Four of those hits came in the first inning, helping AQ to an early 2-0 lead. Aquinas then doubled the lead in the second after a single from
Ramsey Bousseau brought in two more runs.
Four more hits in the top of the third, all of which were singles, scored another run and loaded the bases with no outs. An unfortunate double play on the ensuing at-bat prevented any more runs from being scored, but AQ held a five-run lead and had already recorded 11 hits through three innings.
The two teams traded a run in the fourth inning before doubles from
Ryan Gillings and
Luke LaCross in the fifth helped drive in two more runs for a commanding 8-1 advantage.
Singles from
Chase Ingersoll and
Grant Martin in the top of the sixth had the Saints threatening to score yet again. Two batters later,
JD Gillies delivered with a two-RBI single to put the Saints' run total to double digits.
Cleary would score a pair of consolation runs in the bottom of the sixth, but AQ won the contest 10-3.
Aquinas had a field day batting as seven different Saints had multiple hits, including three-hit days from Bousseau,
Nicolas Verdugo, and Martin.
Game 2: Cleary 6, Aquinas 5
The second game started a bit more tame as the first run wasn't recorded until the fourth inning. Martin hit a leadoff double and then scored on a flyout from
Nathan Wilcox after a throwing error. Cleary immediately responded with a solo home run to tie the game and then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after two walks, a single, and an error allowed CU to bring home two runs.
Cleary scored again in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-1 lead. AQ nearly put together a two-out rally in the seventh frame, loading up the bases. However, a strikeout ended the bid and maintained the Cougar lead.
Martin finally got a rally going in the eighth with a leadoff home run. Wilcox and Gillies followed that with a pair of singles, scoring a run with the help of an
Owen Graves stolen base. Another single, this time courtesy of Mitchell, and a LaCross flyout tied the contest at 4-4.
The drama continued as Cleary managed to respond with two runs of its own off of four hits, forcing AQ to need another rally in the ninth to stay in the game. Martin launched his second homer of the game with two outs to bring AQ within one, but AQ could not quite complete the comeback, grounding out on the next at-bat.
By the Numbers
The Saints totaled 33 hits against the Cougars, outhitting the hosts by 20 over the two games. AQ outhit Cleary in the loss by a margin of 13-8 but stranded nine runners on base. AQ batted .446 as a team and stole 10 bases.
Sam Pollack earned his third career victory in the first outing, allowing just three hits and one earned run over five innings.
Martin had a career day, posting three hits in game one and four hits in game two. This included two home runs and a double, giving the senior a team-leading 15 doubles and eight dingers.
A total of nine Saints posted at least two hits. Bousseau, LaCross, and Gillies all had four hits.
Up Next
Aquinas will wrap up its conference season this weekend with four games against the Rochester Christian Warriors. AQ is scheduled to play two games on Saturday (Apr. 27) and Sunday (Apr. 28)
