Rockford, MI — While there's nothing better than postseason baseball, Thursday at the WHAC Tournament pushed things to the edge of misery.

Between the weather, the delays, and a four-hour slugfest, it's hard to call the day "fun"—but Coach LaMange's squad battled and ultimately lost an unforgettable game to UNOH, 17-11. You had to see it to believe it, but here's a taste of the madness.

UNOH 17, Aquinas 11
In a second-round slugfest at the WHAC Baseball Tournament, Aquinas couldn't hang on to a mid-game lead, falling 17-11 to top-seeded Northwestern Ohio in a game that featured 28 runs, 28 hits, and 10 errors.

The fourth-seeded Saints made noise in the sixth inning, exploding for seven runs—including a go-ahead three-run homer by Grant Martin—to take a 9-4 lead. But the momentum evaporated quickly. UNOH countered with a devastating nine-run bottom half, fueled by errors and timely hitting, to reclaim the lead for good.

Key Moments:

• Grant Martin led the way at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and a home run—his first of the tournament.
• Luke LaCross added two hits and 2 RBI, while JT LaMange quietly posted a 3-for-4 day and scored once.
• Aquinas struck first in the second inning, but defensive miscues—five total errors, including three by third baseman Dawson Shearer—proved too much to overcome.

On the mound, Aquinas never found a rhythm after starter Kaleb Mitchelson exited in the second inning. Four relievers combined to allow 16 runs. Hunter Doyle took the loss, surrendering seven runs (five earned) over two innings.

UNOH was paced by Noah Matheson, who went 4-for-6 with 3 RBI, and Joskar Feliciano, whose three-run triple in the sixth capped the Racers' stunning comeback. Eliomar Otero added a homer and three RBI in the win.

Despite the loss, several Saints turned in strong performances. Stephen Weinert stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with an RBI sac fly and a walk. He's now posted multiple hits in back-to-back postseason games. Dylan Nguyen added a hit, a run, a stolen base, and an RBI on a hard-hit grounder in the seventh.

Kasy Shadduck reached base three times and anchored the second-inning rally with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and solid play behind the plate. Brayden Monroe, used as a pinch runner, showcased heads-up baserunning to score in the seventh. And despite his tough day in the field, Dawson Shearer still contributed offensively with a sacrifice fly.

The Saints racked up 12 hits and showed excellent plate discipline, drawing eight walks—a promising trend as they prepare for a must-win elimination game.

Aquinas will now face Lawrence Tech in an elimination game at 10 a.m. Friday.
Northwestern Ohio moves on to face No. 2 Concordia in a winner's bracket showdown at 6 p.m.

Despite the loss, the Saints' offense looked potent—they'll need that same spark, plus sharper defense, to keep their season alive.

Inside the Numbers

• See-Saw Affair: The game featured four ties and five lead changes
• Oopsie: An eye-popping 11 total errors were committed
• Ouch: 13 walks and 5 hit-by-pitches kept runners busy
• Arms Needed: The teams combined to use 11 pitchers
• Still Going: Game time was 3 hours, 34 minutes—plus a 35-minute lightning delay

Coach's Comments
Head Coach Chris LaMange on Thursday's game:
"Ran into a good UNOH team that is very good offensively, and we just couldn't get that third out late in the game. The guys battled all day long and will come back ready to go in the morning against LTU."

Up Next
It's do-or-die time for AQ, as they must defeat the Blue Devils to keep their WHAC hopes alive. First pitch is at 10 a.m. Friday.

Although Aquinas is technically the visiting team, the game will be played at home against Lawrence Tech.

Friday's Schedule at Meijer Sports Complex:

• 10 AM: Aquinas vs. Lawrence Tech (loser eliminated)
• 2 PM: Winner of 10 AM game vs. Indiana Tech
• 6 PM: UNOH vs. Concordia

All games will be streamed on the AQ YouTube channel: AQAthleticsNet

Director of Athletic Communications Joey Sutherlin will handle both play-by-play and live stats duties.

For live updates, recaps, and full coverage of AQ Athletics, visit www.aqsaints.com.