Rockford, MI – It has been a whirlwind week for AQ baseball. Saturday's doubleheader with Defiance marked the team's ninth game in the last seven days—a grueling stretch that included a holiday weekend and a last-minute schedule change that scrapped a trip to Ohio. With AQ fighting for a top-four spot in the WHAC standings, calling it a "crazy week" might be an understatement.

Game 1: Defiance 7, Aquinas 5

Despite leading into the final inning, the Aquinas baseball team fell 7-5 in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader against Defiance College at the Meijer Sports Complex.

The Saints (23-21) responded to an early Defiance run with two of their own in the bottom of the first. Dylan Nguyen tied the game with an RBI single to right, followed by Kasy Shadduck driving in another with a groundout.

Aquinas kept the momentum going in the second when JT LaMange delivered an RBI single. After Defiance jumped ahead, the Saints knotted things up again at 4-4 in the third thanks to a Chase Robinson double that brought home Nguyen.

LaMange came through again in the sixth with a sacrifice fly, scoring Grant Martin and giving Aquinas a 5-4 advantage.

However, the Yellow Jackets (10-30) staged a late rally in the top of the seventh. After tying the game with an RBI single, Defiance landed the knockout blow with a two-run double to right that sealed the 7-5 win.

Blake Waibel took the loss for AQ, allowing two runs across three innings of relief while striking out seven. Starter Mark Kalahar gave up four earned runs over three innings, and Martin allowed the final run in the seventh.

LaMange led AQ with two RBIs, while Luke LaCross had a multi-hit effort, scored twice, and stole a base. The Saints totaled nine hits and played error-free defense but couldn't hold off Defiance's late surge.

Aquinas looked to bounce back in the nightcap.

Inside the Numbers (Game 1):
• Ramsey Bousseau: 2-3, BB, 1 run scored
• Luke LaCross: 2-2, BB, SB, 1 run scored
• JT LaMange: 1-2, SF, 2 RBIs

Game 2: Aquinas 7, Defiance 6

The Saints roared back in the second inning and held off a late charge to secure a 7-6 win over Defiance College in game two of the doubleheader Saturday night at Wolverine Worldwide Family Field.

Trailing 2-0 after the top of the first, AQ erupted for six runs in the second inning, capitalizing on three Defiance errors and some timely hitting. RBI singles from LaMange, Bousseau, and Nguyen sparked the outburst. Robinson added a sacrifice fly, and LaCross stole home to punctuate the rally.

Defiance chipped away with single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, eventually tying the game at six apiece after a passed ball and a defensive miscue.

But Aquinas had one more answer. Grant Martin led off the seventh with a single and later crossed the plate on LaMange's second RBI single of the game, giving AQ a 7-6 lead they would not surrender.

Travis Weide shut things down from the mound, tossing three scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out four. Starter Ethan Pequette and reliever Cameron Gross held Defiance to five earned runs over the first six innings.

LaMange finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Martin and LaCross each added two hits and a run. Bousseau tallied two hits and a stolen base, and Dawson Shearer played a key role in three of the Saints' runs.

With the split, Aquinas moves to 24-22 overall and 17-7 in WHAC play heading into the final week of the regular season.

Inside the Numbers (Game 2):
• JT LaMange: 2-3, BB, 1 R, 2 RBIs
• Luke LaCross: 2-4, SB, 1 run scored
• Ramsey Bousseau: 2-5, 2B, RBI, 1 run scored
• Travis Weide: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks – earns the win

Coach's Comments:

Head Coach Chris LaMange on the doubleheader split:
"Another very good weekend for AQ – great to get three wins after some really good ballgames, including today with Defiance. Big two weeks ahead of us with the conference tourney just 10 days away."

Up Next:

The Saints get a much-needed week off before hosting Rochester Christian on Senior Day, Saturday, April 26, at the Meijer Sports Complex. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00 PM, with game two to follow roughly 30 minutes after. AQ will wrap up the regular season on the road at Indiana Tech on Sunday. Full recaps and updates will be posted at AQSaints.com.