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Box Score 2 Davenport, IA – The early part of the softball season, especially before conference play, can be a learning experience filled with ups and downs. For Coach Brad Koch and his Aquinas squad, the good news is that improvement is evident with each game. That progress continued in Davenport, Iowa, this weekend as the Saints wrapped up their trip by splitting two games on Sunday.
Game 1: Aquinas 2, Culver-Stockton 0
After dropping both games on Saturday, the Saints needed a strong bounce-back performance. They got exactly that in Sunday morning's opener, winning a pitcher's duel 2-0 against Culver-Stockton.
Raeann Drummond delivered a stellar outing in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. The Saints provided all the offense they needed in the third inning. A combination of singles and defensive miscues allowed Aquinas to manufacture two runs. Emma Houseman ripped a single down the right-field line, scoring Alea Fisher for the first run. Later, with two outs, Katie Carlson added an RBI single, bringing home Patrina Marsh to give AQ a 2-0 advantage.
Offensively, Houseman finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Marsh contributed a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the bottom of the order, scoring one of the two runs.
By the Numbers:
Game 2: Saint Xavier 7, Aquinas 6
The Saints had a chance to leave Davenport with two wins, but Saint Xavier held off a late rally to edge Aquinas 7-6.
The Saints struck first when Katie Carlson crushed a solo home run in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. However, Saint Xavier responded by tying the game via a steal of home.
Aquinas' offense came alive in the third, plating three runs. Houseman scored on an RBI double from Carlson, who later crossed home on an RBI double by Carson Hendrickson. Kenzie Jordan followed with an RBI double of her own, extending the Saints' lead to 4-1.
However, Saint Xavier chipped away, capitalizing on timely hitting and a defensive miscue to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Cougars then broke through in the fourth inning, scoring three more to take a 6-4 lead before adding another insurance run in the fifth.
Facing a 7-4 deficit in their final at-bat, the Saints refused to go down quietly. Mallory Buikema delivered in the clutch, blasting a two-run double to score Patrina Marsh and Karigann Cuthbert, putting the tying run in scoring position. However, Aquinas couldn't push across the equalizer, as Saint Xavier escaped with the 7-6 victory.
By the Numbers:
- Katie Carlson: 2-for-2, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
- Mallory Buikema: 1-for-1, 2B, 2 RBI
- Sophia Pavese (L, 0-1): 5.2 IP, 11 H, 7 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 4 K
- Carson Hendrickson: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
- Kenzie Jordan: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Coach's Take
Head Coach Brad Koch reflected on the team's performance, stating, "We hit the ball a lot better today, which helped us get the game one win and kept us in the fight in game two. Our pitchers did a great job in the circle today as well."
Next Up
The Saints now turn their attention to their Florida Spring Break Trip, where they'll play 12 games to fine-tune their skills before diving into WHAC conference play. Stay tuned for updates and results at aqsaints.com.
