Rockford, Mich. — The Saints continue to prove they are one of the most difficult teams to prepare for in the WHAC. Aquinas can beat opponents in a variety of ways, and according to Head Coach Chris LaMange, the group is still far from playing its best baseball. The spring trip provided growth, lessons, and a dose of humility — all ingredients of a team learning how to win.
On Sunday, that growth was on full display. The "cardiac kids" delivered a walk-off win in game one, then turned around and used aggressive baserunning and situational execution to win game two — despite being outhit — completing a sweep in Rockford.
Game 1 — Aquinas 6, Defiance 5
The Saints showed their resilience early and late in the opener, jumping on the board in the first inning as Stephen Weinert reached and came around to score, followed by a strong second inning where Brodie Gregory ignited the offense with a single and later scored on Chase Robinson's RBI triple. Robinson's aggressive approach continued as Austin Alcumbrack followed with an RBI single to push the Saints ahead 3-0.
Defiance responded in the middle innings, stringing together hits to tie the game and eventually take a 5-3 lead, putting the Saints on the ropes heading into the late innings. But the Saints never blinked. Dylan Nguyen continued his strong day at the plate with multiple hits, while Joey Hysell added two knocks and consistently pressured the defense on the bases.
In the sixth, the comeback began as Robinson worked a walk and Alcumbrack delivered again, ripping a triple to bring the Saints within one. The momentum carried into the seventh, where the "cardiac kids" lived up to the nickname. After a walk by Kasy Shadduck and aggressive baserunning from Jaden Bozek, Gregory delivered a clutch single to tie the game. Moments later, JT LaMange dropped down a perfectly placed bunt single, scoring Gregory for the walk-off win.
On the mound, Korbyn Russell kept the Saints within striking distance early, while Kaleb Mitchelson was outstanding in relief, shutting the door over the final three innings to earn the win.
Game 2 — Aquinas 8, Defiance 2
Game two showcased a different formula — elite pitching, timely hitting, and relentless pressure on the basepaths.
After falling behind 1-0 early, the Saints answered in the third inning with speed and execution. Will Kovl sparked the offense with a single, and Stephen Weinert followed with a base hit. The duo executed a double steal that resulted in Kovl swiping home, igniting the Saints dugout. Moments later, Nguyen capitalized on a wild pitch to plate another run.
The fifth inning proved to be the difference-maker. Nguyen once again set the tone, reaching and advancing into scoring position before Joey Hysell delivered an RBI double. The Saints then used small ball and aggressive baserunning — highlighted by Austin Deller's speed — to manufacture two more runs and take control at 5-1.
From there, the pitching took over. Ethan Bowen was sharp through five innings, limiting damage and keeping Defiance off balance, while Hudson Lubbers was dominant in relief, striking out four and closing out the final four innings.
The Saints added insurance in the eighth, with Nguyen collecting another hit and scoring, while Zachary Hayes and Eric Bryce each drove in runs to put the game out of reach. Despite being outhit, the Saints controlled the game with execution, pressure, and timely swings, pulling away for an 8-2 victory.
Dylan Nguyen paced the offense with multiple hits and runs scored, while Hysell, Robinson, and Weinert each contributed in key moments as the Saints once again found a different path to victory.
With the sweep, Aquinas improves to 12-13 overall and 7-1 in WHAC play, while Defiance falls to 9-18, 2-4 in conference play. The Saints now sit alone atop the WHAC standings.
Saints Snapshots
• Clutch Gene — AQ rallied from a 5-3 deficit in Game 1, scoring the final three runs to secure a walk-off win.
• Speed Kills — The Saints stole multiple bases in both games, including a steal of home in Game 2 that flipped momentum early.
• Nguyen Leading the Charge — Dylan Nguyen reached base consistently across both games and was a catalyst at the top of the lineup.
• Pitching Depth — Kaleb Mitchelson (Game 1) and Hudson Lubbers (Game 2) combined for six strong innings of relief to secure both wins.
• Manufacturing Runs — AQ scored repeatedly without relying on the long ball, using sacrifice plays, baserunning, and situational hitting.
• Different Ways to Win — Out-hit in Game 2, but outplayed — the Saints continue to prove they can beat teams in multiple ways.
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Chris LaMange said the Saints showed the toughness and resilience needed to compete in the WHAC during a demanding road stretch.
"Outstanding weekend for AQ — a big comeback victory in game one and another very good pitching performance in game two to extend the winning streak to seven," LaMange said. "It's great to see our players continue to gain confidence and expect to win the tight games. Being on top of the standings after two weeks looks really good, but we know there's more work ahead."
Up Next
Aquinas Baseball will now prepare for a single nine-inning game on Tuesday with Alma, before hitting the road to Lima, Ohio, for the weekend, featuring four games with UNOH.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage of AQ Baseball and all Saints athletics.
