Grand Rapids, MI – The Aquinas baseball team displayed resilience and offensive firepower on Friday, completing a doubleheader sweep over crosstown rival Cornerstone in WHAC play. The Saints rallied in both games, securing a 6-5 win in Game 1 before dominating 11-2 in Game 2 to cap off the day.

Game 1: Aquinas 6, Cornerstone 5

The Saints dug themselves a deep hole, trailing 4-0 after the first inning, but they never gave up, battling back to claim a 6-5 victory. The comeback started in the fourth inning when Dawson Shearer drove in two runs with a single to center, cutting the deficit to 4-2. After Cornerstone tacked on another run, Aquinas struck again in the fifth. Chase Robinson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in a run before Grant Martin's double play allowed another run to score, narrowing the gap to 5-4.

The Saints completed the comeback in the sixth. Ramsey Bousseau tied the game with an RBI double to left, scoring Owen Graves. Moments later, Luke LaCross hit a double to right, bringing in Bousseau for the game-winning run. The bullpen held strong, with Blake Waibel earning the win after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three.

Inside the Numbers (Game 1):

• Ramsey Bousseau: 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored
• Kasy Shadduck: 1-2, plus two walks
• Blake Waibel: 2 2/3 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 K's
• Aquinas: Trailed 4-0 and 5-2 before completing the comeback

Game 2: Aquinas 11, Cornerstone 2

In Game 2, the Saints turned a tight contest into a dominant victory with an eight-run surge in the eighth inning. After a scoreless first five innings, Aquinas broke the deadlock in the sixth when Dylan Nguyen's groundout brought in Landon Mueller. Robinson's error-induced RBI gave the Saints a 2-1 lead, but Cornerstone responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game.

The game took a dramatic turn in the eighth when Aquinas exploded for eight runs. Robinson's RBI single put the Saints ahead, followed by a two-run pinch-hit single by Drew Mitchell. Bousseau's double and a wild pitch added more insurance, while Nguyen's infield single capped off the rally. With a comfortable 11-2 lead, the Saints cruised to the win, with Ethan Bowen earning the victory after pitching three innings of one-run ball, striking out three.

Inside the Numbers (Game 2):

• Ramsey Bousseau: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
• Dylan Nguyen: 3-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored
• Drew Mitchell: Pinch-hit, 2-run single
• Ethan Bowen: 3 IP, 1 run, 3 hits, 3 K's (Win)

Coach's Comments

Head Coach Chris LaMange praised his team's poise:
"Big sweep of our crosstown rivals today – really like how we settled down after a tough first inning in Game 1, didn't panic, and just played 16 very good innings of baseball on the day. Two come-from-behind wins are huge to give us momentum going into the Lourdes games tomorrow."

Up Next

The Saints quickly turn their attention to Saturday's WHAC doubleheader at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio. First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon, and fans can follow all updates, stats, and recaps at AQSaints.com.