Rosemont, Ill. — For first-year Head Coach Patty Jansen, opening day on Friday the 13th may have raised a few eyebrows, but by the end of the afternoon, there was nothing unlucky about how her Aquinas softball team performed. With months of preparation finally giving way to live action, the Saints opened the 2026 campaign with energy, execution, and a complete team effort across two challenging games at the Rosemont Tournament.
Aquinas 6, Bethel 0 (Game 1 Friday)
The Saints wasted little time settling into their season debut, riding a balanced offensive attack and a dominant performance in the circle to secure a convincing 6–0 victory over Bethel.
After a scoreless first inning, Aquinas broke through in the second when Alea Fisher worked a walk and Daniela Anzaldua ripped a double to right center to plate the first run of the season. The Saints added another tally in the third as Katie Carlson doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Abby Nieswender, giving AQ a 2–0 cushion.
Carlson was a force all afternoon, finishing 3-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI, consistently driving the ball into the gaps. McKenna Hinkle set the tone at the top of the lineup, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI, applying pressure on the Bethel defense from the opening pitch. Bella Asai contributed two hits, including a clutch RBI double in the sixth inning, while Fisher added two hits and scored twice out of the shortstop spot.
The Saints created further separation in the fifth and sixth innings. Hinkle's aggressive base running, combined with patient at-bats from Karigann Cuthbert and timely hitting throughout the lineup, extended the lead to 3–0 before Aquinas erupted for three runs in the sixth. Asai's double plated one, Hinkle delivered an RBI single, and a wild pitch allowed another run to cross, pushing the margin to 6–0.
If there were any opening-day nerves, Aquinas erased them quickly and confidently, playing loose, aggressive, and composed from first pitch to final out.
Inside the circle, Ada Bradford was in complete control. The sophomore right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out 11 without issuing a walk. Bradford mixed speeds effectively, keeping Bethel off balance and stranding runners when needed. The defense backed her up with steady play from Carlson at the corner, Anzaldua on the left side, and Mallory Buikema behind the plate.
With the win, Aquinas started the Patty Jansen era 1–0 in convincing fashion, combining timely hitting, aggressive base running, and dominant pitching in a complete team performance.
Indiana Wesleyan 5, Aquinas 0 (Game 2 Friday)
Game two of the day presented a stiff challenge, as Indiana Wesleyan used early opportunities to blank the Saints 5-zip.
Indiana Wesleyan struck first in the second inning before adding three runs in the third, taking advantage of extra-base hits and timely RBI swings to build a 4–0 lead. Sydney Bosgraaf was the game 2 starter and battled through traffic in the early innings before Emma Austin entered in relief and provided stability, allowing just one run over 4.2 innings of work.
Offensively, the Saints showed flashes. Abby Nieswender singled in the second to spark a brief rally, while Daniela Anzaldua and McKenna Hinkle delivered back-to-back singles in the third to put runners in scoring position. However, Indiana Wesleyan turned key defensive plays to escape the inning unscathed.
Meagan Postma added a single later in the contest, and Karigann Cuthbert knocked a base hit down the right field line, but Aquinas could not string together the timely hit needed to break through. Paige Metzger reached base in the final frame, with Gabriella Mezey entering as a pinch runner, as the Saints continued to compete until the final out.
Defensively, Fisher and Anzaldua remained steady on the left side of the infield, while Hinkle covered ground in center field. The game also served as an early reminder of the level of execution required inside the WHAC, where timely hitting and limiting big innings often determine the difference between a win and a loss.
Despite the split, the opening day provided clarity, confidence, and a competitive baseline for where this team stands in February.
Inside the Numbers (From Both Games)
• Ada Bradford struck out 11 in a complete-game shutout to open the season
• Katie Carlson recorded three doubles in Game 1
• Aquinas collected 12 hits in the victory over Bethel
• Emma Austin allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of relief in Game 2
• McKenna Hinkle finished opening day with three hits and a stolen base
Coach's Comments
After the games, Head Coach Patty Jansen reflected on finally getting her team onto the field for live competition.
"It felt great to finally compete against someone other than ourselves," Jansen said. "You never truly know where you stand until the lights come on and the scoreboard is running. I'm proud of how we came out in game one and executed in all phases. At the same time, game two showed us exactly how much work we still have ahead of us. If we want to be competitive in the WHAC, it's going to take consistency, toughness, and attention to detail every single inning. But this group is hungry, and that's a great place to start."
Up Next
Aquinas will continue play at the Rosemont Tournament with two games on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage on AQ Softball and all Saint sports.
