Sylvania, Ohio — The Aquinas softball team opened postseason play on Wednesday (Apr. 30) in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament, squaring off against second-seeded Cornerstone in the opening round. Despite a determined rally in the final inning, the Saints were unable to overcome an early deficit and ultimately fell by a 6–3 score.
Aquinas 3, Cornerstone 6
The Saints struggled early against the second-seeded Golden Eagles, who plated runs in each of the first four innings. Cornerstone jumped ahead quickly with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, then added single runs in the second and fourth inning and two-runs in the third inning to build a 6–0 lead.
Aquinas threatened to score in the second inning after Alea Fisher and Karigann Cuthbert reached base and advanced on a wild pitch, but the Saints were unable to capitalize and left both runners stranded.
The Saints got on the board in the fifth when Cuthbert led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Emma Houseman. Aquinas mounted another scoring opportunity in the sixth, stringing together consecutive singles from Carson Hendrickson and Fisher, but both runners were left in scoring position as the inning came to a close.
Trailing 6–1 entering the final frame, Aquinas showed late life. Pinch hitter Meagan Postma started the rally with a single to left. Katie Carlson and Hendrickson followed with base hits, loading the bases for Jaden Benschoter, who delivered a clutch two-RBI single to right field, scoring Postma and Carlson to cut the deficit to three. With two runners still aboard and the tying run at the plate, a flyout to right ended the comeback attempt.
Sophia Pavese pitched a complete game for the Saints, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs over six innings while striking out two. Offensively, AQ tallied eight hits from eight different players, with Benschoter driving in a team-high two RBI's.
The Saints now move into the elimination bracket of the WHAC Tournament, where they'll look to bounce back and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Sylvania, Ohio — The Aquinas softball team extended its postseason run with a dramatic 7–5 extra-inning victory over Cleary on Wednesday (Apr. 30) in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament. The Saints used timely power at the plate and clutch patience in the 10th inning to outlast the Cougars and advance in the bracket.
Aquinas 7, Cleary 5
Aquinas jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the third inning behind an RBI double from Patrina Marsh and a two-run homer by Carlson. The momentum carried into the fourth, as Benschoter launched a solo home run and McKenna Hinkle stole second to set up a delayed steal of home by Angelina Lanham, putting the Saints ahead 5–1.
Cleary battled back, however, scoring in each of the next three innings to tie the game at 5–5 after six. The Saints had runners on base in the seventh and eighth but couldn't capitalize, and the game headed to extras deadlocked.
In the top of the 10th, Hendrickson led off with a single, and Aquinas loaded the bases after a walk from Abby Nieswender. Cuthbert worked a bases-loaded walk to give AQ a 6–5 lead, and Marsh followed with another RBI walk to bring in the insurance run.
Pavese closed the door in the bottom of the 10th, striking out the leadoff batter and getting two quick outs after a walk to secure the victory.
The Saints racked up 14 hits in the win, including three from Marsh and two apiece from Hendrickson and Benschoter. Pavese earned the win in relief, tossing five scoreless innings to hold off Cleary's comeback.
With the win, Aquinas improves to 28-22 on the season and advances further into WHAC Tournament play.
