Indianapolis, Ind. – It was another historic day for the Aquinas softball team as they continued their nationals run. AQ won the first game of the day in a rematch against Rio Grande, winning by mercy rule over the Red Storm 8-0 in five innings. That win marked the Saints' 42nd win of the season, matching the program's most wins in a single season. That feat had not been accomplished since the 2000 and 2001 seasons, making the 2024 Saints the winningest team in over two decades.

The win over Rio Grande advanced AQ into the one-loss bracket semifinals against No. 8-ranked Marian for a chance at the Indianapolis Bracket Championship and a place in the NAIA World Series.

It took nine innings to separate the two sides, but ultimately it was one swing of the bat for the Knights to take the game and end AQ's historic season. The Knights would ultimately go on to lose the ensuing game, sending the defending national champions, Southern Oregon, back to the NAIA World Series.

Aquinas 8, Rio Grande 0 (5 Innings)

Rio Grande started the contest with a leadoff single, but the hit failed to amount to anything after three quick out. AQ found far more success as Courtney Hardin started the bottom of the first with a walk and stole second. A Haley Myers single put runners on the corners before a wild pitch scored Hardin for the first run of the game.

Back-to-back fielding errors on the subsequent two at-bats from Rio proved to be costly as Kaelyn Stafford hit a two-RBI triple for an early 3-0 lead.

That lead doubled in the second inning after a leadoff hit from Emma Houseman and walks from McKenna Hinkle and Courtney Hardin loaded the bases with no outs. Kim Sosnowski brought Houseman and Hinkle home on a two-RBI single before Darrien Roberts hit the sixth run in to take a commanding lead.

Sophia Pavese continued to deal in the circle, keeping the Red Storm hitless and scoreless over the next two innings. On the opposite side, the AQ offense was held off the scoreboard for the first time in the third inning but was back to its scoring ways in the fourth. Hits from Myers and Katie Carlson put runners on the corners before a sacrifice fly from Roberts brought Myers home. Another RBI from Stafford, this time coming from the double variety, gave AQ eight runs and threatened a mercy.

Rio Grande earned just its second hit of the game to lead off the fifth, but Pavese struck out the next three batters to call the game early for AQ's 42nd win of the season.

By the Numbers

• This was Pavese's 10th complete game of the season and second complete game shutout. The result gave the junior 18 wins this season, the most by any AQ pitcher in 15 seasons.
• The mercy victory was Aquinas' seventh mercy victory this season.
• Aquinas ended the game with nine hits and zero errors on defense.
• Houseman, Stafford, and Myers all posted two hits over the four-and-a-half innings.

#8 Marian 1, Aquinas 0 (9 Innings)

Stafford recorded the first hit of the game in the away half of the second inning with two outs, but it was the Knights who threatened in the bottom of the second inning. Marian tallied a pair of one-out singles that turned into runners in scoring position after a wild pitch. A massive popout followed by Carlson flashing the leather on first got AQ out of the jam unharmed.

Aquinas went on to take its turn at putting Marian into a jam in the top of the third. Houseman hit a leadoff single before Hardin reached on a fielder's choice and Sosnowski singled to load up the bases with just one out. Similarly to Marian in its prior at-bat, the Knights managed to get out of the bases-loaded jam with a popout and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

This defensive dual continued on with both sides putting runners on base, but neither team was able to score a run. Marian generated another massive opportunity in the bottom of the seventh after a two-out rally loaded up the bases. However, Grace Maguire kept Marian off the scoreboard with a popout to Emma Houseman, bringing the game to extra innings.

Both teams put a runner on in the eighth, but that did not amount to anything for either AQ or MU. A one-two-three inning in the ninth gave Marian another opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the frame. Aquinas brought out Pavese after eight innings and 122 pitches from Maguire. Unfortunately for the Saints, Pavese did not get past the first batter as she got a hold of the pitch and sent it over the center field wall to walk it off.

By the Numbers

• This was AQ's first extra innings loss this season. Prior to this game, the Saints were 8-0 in bonus softball.
• Maguire's eight innings tied her season high for the most innings pitched in the game, tying her eight-inning win against UM-Dearborn back on April 13th.
• Sosnowski, Myers, Stafford, and Houseman were the four Saints to record hits.

Up Next

AQ's incredible season finally comes to a close following the result against Marian. The Saints will look to continue building off of the success this season with their eyes on 2025.