Melbourne, Fla. — By the time the third day of the Florida trip rolled around, the rhythm of the Space Coast Spring Games was starting to feel familiar for the Aquinas softball team. Early mornings, long afternoons at the ballpark, and plenty of chances to test themselves against quality competition from around the country. Tuesday's doubleheader in Melbourne brought another pair of tight contests for the Saints, who battled Bellevue in the opener before bouncing back with a strong win over Nelson to split the day and continue building momentum during their stay in the Sunshine State.
Bellevue 8, Aquinas 6 (Game 1 Tuesday)
The Saints opened Tuesday afternoon with a spirited offensive effort but were unable to overcome a late Bellevue rally in an 8–6 loss.
Bellevue struck first in the second inning with a pair of runs, but Aquinas began chipping away at the deficit in the fourth. Katie Carlson sparked the rally with a triple before Abby Nieswender followed with an RBI single to center to cut the lead in half.
Bellevue answered with three runs in the fifth to extend the advantage to 5–1, but the Saints refused to go quietly.
In the sixth inning, Alea Fisher worked a walk and later moved into scoring position before Mallory Buikema delivered an RBI single to left field to bring Aquinas within three.
The Saints saved their biggest push for the seventh inning.
Daniela Anzaldua started the rally with a single before Katie Carlson added a base hit to put two runners on. Nieswender followed with another RBI single to keep the inning alive.
Moments later, Alea Fisher singled to load the bases and set the stage for Karigann Cuthbert, who delivered a clutch two-run single to center field to tie the game at 5–5.
Bella Asai then gave Aquinas its first lead of the afternoon with an RBI single to left field that scored Fisher.
Unfortunately for AQ, Bellevue answered in the bottom half of the inning. The Bruins loaded the bases before Leslie Egan cleared them with a three-run triple that proved to be the decisive swing, giving Bellevue the 8–6 victory.
The Saints finished the opener with 10 hits, including multi-hit performances from Daniela Anzaldua, Katie Carlson, and Abby Nieswender.
Aquinas 3, Nelson 1 (Game 2 Tuesday)
The Saints bounced back in the nightcap behind a strong pitching performance and timely power from one of their hottest hitters.
Ada Bradford was excellent in the circle, tossing a complete-game victory while allowing just one run on five hits and striking out three Nelson hitters. She worked efficiently throughout the evening, keeping the Nelson offense from mounting any sustained rallies.
Aquinas broke through in the second inning when Alea Fisher singled and later came around to score after stealing third and crossing the plate on a throwing error.
The Saints added two more runs in the third inning thanks to the long ball.
After Karigann Cuthbert reached base with a single, Katie Carlson launched a two-run homer to center field to extend the Aquinas lead to 3–0.
Nelson managed to scratch across a run in the sixth inning, but Bradford closed the door in the seventh to secure the win.
Aquinas finished the game with five hits, including singles from Cuthbert, Fisher, Phoenix Shaw, and Gianna Mccarato, along with Carlson's decisive home run.
The victory allowed the Saints to split the day and continue gaining confidence as the Florida trip moved deeper into the week.
Saints Snapshots
The Power Swing — Katie Carlson's two-run homer in game two provided the key offense in the Saints' 3–1 victory over Nelson.
The Workhorse — Ada Bradford threw a complete-game five-hitter to earn the win in the nightcap.
The Rally — Aquinas scored four runs in the seventh inning against Bellevue to briefly take the lead.
The Hit Parade — The Saints collected 10 hits in the opener against Bellevue.
The Response — After a tough loss in game one, AQ responded with a strong win in the nightcap.
The Momentum — The Saints continue to gain valuable experience against strong competition during the Space Coast Spring Games.
Coach's Comments
Following Tuesday's split, Head Coach Patty Jansen reflected on the continued progress of her team during the Florida trip.
"We're continuing to see this group improve every time we take the field," Jansen said. "There are still areas where we need to be sharper, but the effort and competitiveness from this team has been outstanding. We're learning a lot about ourselves during this trip, and if we keep building on the positives we've seen, this team has a chance to be very good."
Up Next
The Florida trip continues Wednesday as the Saints return to action in the Space Coast Spring Games. Aquinas will first face St. Mary-of-the-Woods at 2:30 p.m. before returning later in the evening for a 7:00 p.m. match-up against Florida International.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage of AQ Softball and all Saints athletics.
