Chicago, Ill. — There's something about the final tune-up before heading south that reveals a lot about a ballclub. Friday afternoon and Saturday at Ferrell Field provided exactly that for Aquinas. The Saints dropped a tough two-game set to the Cougars of Saint Xavier, but the lessons learned may prove more valuable than the results themselves. With the Spring Training trip looming and WHAC play inching closer, this group continues to discover who they are — what travels, what doesn't, and what must tighten up if they want to be in the conversation for a conference crown.

St. Xavier 19, Aquinas 9 (Game 1 – Friday)

For five innings on Friday afternoon at Ferrell Field, Aquinas looked every bit like the aggressive, dangerous offense that can put pressure on anyone. Unfortunately for the Saints, one explosive inning from Saint Xavier — combined with too many free bases — proved too much to overcome in the series opener.

AQ wasted no time jumping on the Cougars. Stephen Weinert led off the game with a single, Dylan Nguyen followed with a double down the line, and Chase Robinson delivered a two-RBI single to center to give the Saints a quick 2–0 lead.

An inning later, Brayden Monroe launched a two-run homer to left after Will Kovl reached with a single, extending the advantage to 4–0 and putting early pressure on the home side.

After Saint Xavier answered with two runs in the second, Kasy Shadduck responded in the third, hammering a solo home run to left to push the Saints back in front, 5–2.

Through three innings, Aquinas had already collected eight hits and dictated the tempo offensively.

But the momentum shifted in the bottom of the third when a three-run homer tied the game at 5–5. An inning later, a fielding error, a sacrifice fly, and a two-run home run gave Saint Xavier its first lead of the afternoon at 8–5.

Hudson Lubbers battled through 3.1 innings in the start before Walker Brockie came on in relief, looking to slow the Cougars' surge. Korbyn Russell later took over as AQ worked to piece together outs against a Saint Xavier lineup that capitalized on nearly every opportunity.

Still, the Saints continued to swing it.

Nguyen blasted a solo home run in the seventh to spark a four-run inning. Joey Hysell reached on an error and moved into scoring position, Robinson worked a walk, and Shadduck ripped a two-run double to center. Mason Ruether added an RBI single to trim the deficit to 12–9 and breathe life back into the dugout.

Weinert finished 4-for-5 at the top of the lineup, while Nguyen collected two hits and scored twice. Shadduck drove in three runs, Monroe added two RBI, and Robinson plated two in a balanced 15-hit attack for the Saints. JT LaMange added a hit and a stolen base, and Kovl chipped in two hits as Aquinas consistently found barrels throughout the afternoon.

But the game ultimately turned in the bottom of the seventh. After an error opened the door, Saint Xavier broke it open with a three-run triple and a balk that extended the lead. In total, the Cougars scored seven unearned runs — the difference in what had been a competitive game.

Saint Xavier tacked on three more in the eighth, while AQ continued to compete until the final out.

In all, Aquinas pounded out 15 hits and showed the offensive firepower that can make this lineup dangerous. The challenge now becomes tightening up defensively and limiting the free bases that allowed the Cougars to create separation.

And if Friday showed anything, it's this — the bats are awake.

St. Xavier 4, Aquinas 3 (Game 2 – Saturday)

Saturday morning had the feel of a classic early-season grinder, and for six innings, the Saints were in command.

Aquinas carried a 3–1 lead into the bottom of the seventh before Saint Xavier rallied for three runs to walk it off in heartbreaking fashion.

Sam Pollack was sharp in the start, working five strong innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run. The right-hander attacked the zone, scattered traffic, and kept the Cougars off balance.

After falling behind 1–0 in the first on a sacrifice fly, the Saints answered in the third. Stephen Weinert reached and eventually scored when Joey Hysell ripped an RBI single to even things at 1–1.

Aquinas grabbed control in the fifth.

Brodie Gregory started the inning with a single, Weinert followed with a base hit, and both moved into scoring position with aggressive baserunning. Hysell delivered again — lacing a two-RBI double to right to give AQ a 3–1 advantage.

Hysell finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, accounting for all of the Saints' production at the plate. Weinert scored twice and added a stolen base, while JT LaMange chipped in a single. Ruston Whitten came off the bench to deliver a base hit, and Blake Bennett added a stolen base as Aquinas pressured Saint Xavier defensively.

The Saints struck out 11 times but capitalized on their opportunities and played clean baseball behind Pollack.

Travis Weide worked the sixth inning and battled through traffic to preserve the lead heading to the final frame.

But the seventh inning turned quickly.

A leadoff walk and another free pass put the tying runs on base before a fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed Saint Xavier to even the score. Moments later, a run-scoring single up the middle completed the comeback.

Hunter Doyle was charged with the loss after the Cougars pushed across the go-ahead run.

It was a frustrating finish for a Saints club that had done enough to win for six innings. The margin between winning and losing at this level is razor thin — and Saturday was a reminder that closing games requires precision, focus, and execution.

The Saints drop to 3–5 overall, but the tone of the weekend suggests a team that is far from discouraged. There is growth happening in real time — and this group knows it.

Inside the Numbers

    • 15 — Hits by the Saints in Friday's opener
    • 6  — Hits allowed by AQ pitching Saturday
    • 3  — RBI from Joey Hysell in Game 2
    • 7  — Unearned runs allowed Friday
    • 21-19  —  AQ out hit the Cougars over the two game set

Coach's Comments

Following the trip to the Windy City, Head Coach Chris LaMange reflected on where his club stands:

"We saw a lot this weekend. Offensively, we can compete with anybody — that's clear. Now it's about consistency. It's about finishing innings, finishing games, and eliminating the free bases that good teams capitalize on. The Spring Trip will be huge for us. That's where identity gets solidified. Our guys believe in what we're building, and I do too. We're close — and we're going to keep pushing."

Up Next

The Saints will spend the week making sure the classroom work is handled before packing their bags for a trip down south and an intense week of baseball development and fine-tuning, featuring nine games in five days.

Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, full coverage, and post-game recaps from around Aquinas Athletics.