Caledonia, Mich. – The AQ softball squad wrapped up their conference regular season with a pair of games against Siena Heights today (Apr. 24) at the Davenport Athletic Complex. Aquinas was firing on all cylinders today, holding SHU to just one run over two games and scoring a total of 13 runs for a sweep.
The Saints are still in fifth place in the WHAC standings after today, but the third and fourth-placed teams will face off with each other before the conclusion of their regular seasons, leaving AQ with room to improve.
Game 1: Aquinas 9, Siena Heights 1 (5 Innings)
Haley Myers reached base to start the bottom of the first and immediately stole second to set herself up in scoring position.
Emma Houseman grounded out, but advanced Myers to third before
Katie Carlson hit her home for the first run of the game. A
Courtney Hardin double and a
Darrien Roberts loaded the bases before
Carson Hendrickson hit a bases-clearing double to take a 4-0 lead.
The Aquinas Saints struck again in the bottom of the third frame. Carlson hit a leadoff double before SHU generated two outs, threatening to strand Carlson in scoring position. Instead, Roberts hit her first home run since the very first game of the season to add on two more Aquinas runs.
A similar formula worked in the next inning.
Kaelyn Stafford doubled to left field and, two batters later, Myers launched a home run to put the hosts ahead 8-0.
Siena Heights finally scored its first run of the game in the fifth inning after three hits brought a run home, but AQ responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth. The game was called after the fifth inning due to a mercy rule.
The story of the first contest was AQ's bend but don't break defense. Siena Heights outhit AQ 10-9 but stranded eight runners on base throughout the game.
Game 2: Aquinas 4, Siena Heights 0
Unlike the first game, the second contest was a defensive battle. All of the runs for the game came in the Aquinas half of the third inning.
Kim Sosnowski walked, Carlson reached on an error, and Hardin walked to load the bases.
Roberts singled with the bases jammed to score two runs before AQ executed a perfect double steal with runners on the corners to bring home a third.
Jessica Dobias singled and a sacrifice fly from Hendrickson drove in the final run of the game.
Sophia Pavese was lights out all game, allowing just four hits over seven innings. Aquinas outhit SHU 7-4 in game two.
By the Numbers
Aquinas recorded a .327 hitting percentage as a team and was a perfect 8-8 on stolen base attempts.
Carlson had a great day batting with four hits on six at-bats. Roberts, Stafford, Hendrickson, and Myers all ended today with two hits.
The home runs were Roberts' second of the season and Myers' fourth.
Up Next
Aquinas will conclude the regular season on Sunday (Apr. 28) with a road doubleheader against IU-South Bend. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
