Sylvania, Ohio – After winning both of their games yesterday, the Saints softball team started the day with an opportunity to make it to the WHAC Tournament Championship game against No. 11-ranked Madonna. The three-time WHAC Pitcher of the Year, Maeson Schlaud, kept AQ off the scoreboard once more, her third time shutting out the Saints this season. The Crusaders won the semifinal game 5-0 and advanced to the WHAC Tournament Championship game while the Saints dropped to the consolation bracket for another chance to make it to the championship.

As fate would have it, Aquinas ran into Cornerstone University, who made an unexpected run to the consolation bracket semifinals. Everything was on the line in the battle between the two rivals. With Madonna making it to the tournament championship game already, the winner of the game would earn the WHAC's second automatic bid to nationals.

The clash between the two rivals was, once again, a low-scoring affair. AQ scored all of its runs in the second inning and then held on to win 3-2. Kaelyn Stafford caught the ball at the wall for the final out, booking AQ's trip to both the tournament championship game and to nationals.

The win against Cornerstone gave the Saints a perfect three-game season sweep over the Golden Eagles, winning each game by one run. This win increases Aquinas' win streak over its rival to eight games. Not only that, but today's win over CU was win number 40 on the season, tying coach Brad Koch's personal record set back in 2018. Just two more wins would tie AQ's all-time record for the most wins in a season.

Game 1: #11 Madonna 5, Aquinas 0

The top-ranked team in the conference scored their first run of the game after Madonna picked up a walk, a stolen base, and advanced on a wild pitch to third base. A routine groundout to third base allowed the runner on third to score in the home half of the first.

AQ generated a hit in the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings with Stafford and Haley Myers each contributing two hits. Stout pitching and spectacular defense from Madonna prevented the Saints from stringing any additional offense together. The Crusaders made several diving plays in the outfield and robbed Katie Carlson of her eighth home run of the season in the fourth frame. 

 Madonna finally broke the game open in the home half of the sixth, scoring four runs on three hits and a fielder's choice to take a five-run lead. Those would be the final runs scored in the game as Madonna advanced to the tournament championship with a 5-0 win.

Game 2: Aquinas 3, Cornerstone 2

The first two games between these two rivals earlier this season were defensive battles and today was no different. Aquinas scored all of its runs in the second inning. Darrien Roberts walked and Stafford singled and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Carson Hendrickson reached base off of an error from Cornerstone's first baseman, giving the Saints their first run.

Emma Houseman successfully executed a sacrifice squeeze to score another run before a fielder's choice play from Myers brought three runs home off of just one hit.

The ensuing two innings flew by with neither side able to generate a hit on offense. That changed in the top of the fifth. An error and a walk to start the inning allowed the Golden Eagles to apply pressure with the tying run at the plate. CU sacrifice bunted the two runners into scoring position before another error and a single cut the deficit to just one run.

AQ threatened in both the fifth and sixth innings, putting a runner in scoring position, but were unable to score. The game came down to the top of the seventh with a one-run lead. Three outs meant a trip to both the conference tournament championship game and to nationals.

Cornerstone grounded out to Houseman, flew out to Roberts, and then sent a deep fly ball to center field that threatened to leave the park. However, Stafford tracked the ball down to the wall and made the effortless grab to secure the win.

Sophia Pavese pitched the first five innings and allowed just one earned run off of two hits. Grace Maguire entered the game in the top of the sixth and closed out the game with a six-out save.

By the Numbers

The win against Cornerstone today booked AQ's first trip to nationals since 2021. However, unlike 2021, AQ will be competing at the national stage after its trip was canceled three years ago due to COVID-19.

Aquinas' pitching was stellar today, allowing just seven total hits, proving why the Saints' pitching crew is one of the best in the conference.

Aquinas had eight total hits across both games. Incredibly, Stafford and Myers accounted for all of them as they both had four hits. Roberts, Kim Sosnowski, Alexa Kownacki, Courtney Hardin, and Carlson reached base today through a walk or being hit by a pitch.

Up Next

The Saints will have another crack at No. 11-ranked Madonna tomorrow (May 3) in the tournament championship game. The game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. However, to win the tournament championship, Aquinas will need to knock off the regular season champs in back-to-back games as the Crusaders have yet to drop a game in the tournament.