Alma, Mich. – The Aquinas College baseball team traveled to face Alma College in a midweek nonconference matchup on Tuesday afternoon. In a tightly contested battle, both teams recorded eight hits, but timely hitting from the Scots proved to be the difference. Aquinas stayed within striking distance throughout the game and threatened late, but Alma capitalized on key opportunities to secure a 4-2 victory over the Saints.
Aquinas 2, Alma 4
Stephen Weinert led off for Aquinas and immediately got the Saints started with a single, but AQ was unable to move him around the bases. Alma responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning, reaching base before using a stolen base and a triple to plate the first run of the contest and take an early 1-0 lead.
Both teams were held quiet in the second inning before the Saints found momentum in the third. JT LaMange opened the frame with a single and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt from Will Kovl. Weinert delivered again at the plate, sending a ball through the left side of the field that allowed Lamange to score and even the game at 1-1. Alma answered in the bottom of the inning, launching a two-run home run to regain the advantage and move ahead 3-1.
The defenses settled in during the fourth and fifth innings as both teams held the other scoreless. Aquinas threatened again in the sixth when Weinert and Joey Hysell worked their way into scoring position, but the Saints were unable to bring either runner home and the opportunity slipped away.
Landon Mueller added another single for AQ later in the game, but Alma continued to make plays defensively to limit the Saints' offense. On the mound, Travis Weide provided a spark for Aquinas, striking out three consecutive batters to shut down the Scots in the seventh inning.
The Saints pushed again in the eighth inning as Hysell started the frame with a double. A wild pitch allowed him to advance to third before Chase Robinson drove him home with a single, cutting the deficit to one run at 3-2. Alma responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run, extending the lead back to two runs at 4-2.
Aquinas looked for a late rally in the final frame but was unable to generate the comeback, falling to the Scots 4-2 in the single-game matchup.
Coaches Comments
"We competed well and put ourselves in positions to score," said head coach Chris LaMange. "We just needed some more hits and to make sure we don't leave guys stranded on the bases. I was proud of the way our guys kept battling and stayed in the game the entire time."
Up Next
Aquinas will shift its focus back to conference play this weekend as the Saints travel to take on the UNOH Racers. AQ and UNOH are set for a weekend WHAC series with games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, both at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
