Lima, Ohio — Sometimes in sports, there isn't a big moment, a big speech, or a big change that flips everything.
Sometimes… it just takes one.
One swing. One inning. One win.
And if you were around the Saints on Saturday, you could feel it — that quiet belief that all it would take was one breakthrough to get Aquinas back to playing the brand of softball that carried them through the early part of the season.
It didn't come easy.
But it came.
UNOH 6, Aquinas 2 (Game 1)
Game one followed a script the Saints have seen a little too often since the start of WHAC play — flashes of good, but not enough sustained momentum to take control.
Aquinas struck first, as Alea Fisher set the tone at the top of the lineup and Katie Carlson drove her in with an RBI single to give AQ the early lead.
The Saints added another in the third, again finding a way to manufacture a run and stay within striking distance.
Bella Asai continued her strong day at the plate with a pair of hits, while Carlson accounted for both AQ RBIs in the contest.
But UNOH responded with timely hitting and took advantage of a few defensive miscues, plating runs in the fourth and fifth innings to create separation.
In the circle, Addy Buchin got the start, while Emma Austin came in and gave the Saints a chance with a strong relief effort, striking out five and limiting further damage.
Still, Aquinas couldn't quite find the big inning, falling 6-2.
Aquinas 9, UNOH 6 (Game 2)
If Game 1 felt like more of the same… Game 2 felt like a reset.
And it happened immediately.
The Saints came out swinging in the first inning, putting up five runs and forcing UNOH on its heels right from the start. The bats were alive, the energy was back, and for the first time in a while, AQ looked like AQ again.
Jadalyn Lopez led the charge in a monster performance, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run home run that helped break the game open early.
Daniela Anzaldua matched her with three hits and two RBIs of her own, while Katie Carlson added a multi-hit game and scored twice. Bella Asai, Maci Willey, and Lauren Wilkins all contributed key hits as the Saints piled up 12 hits as a team.
The early cushion proved to be critical.
UNOH didn't go away, slowly chipping back into the game and putting pressure on the Saints late. But this time, AQ responded.
Ada Bradford came on in relief and stabilized things in the middle innings, while Sydney Bosgraaf closed the door to secure the win — and more importantly, secure something the Saints have been chasing.
A conference win.
Not just a number in the standings — but a release.
A reminder.
And maybe… just maybe… the turning point.
Saints Snapshots
• The Breakthrough — After searching for it throughout the start of WHAC play, AQ finally broke through with a complete offensive performance in Game 2.
• Early Punch Matters — The five-run first inning in Game 2 flipped the entire tone of the day and forced UNOH to play from behind.
• Lopez Ignites the Lineup — Jadalyn Lopez delivered a statement game at the plate, powering the Saints with a three-hit, three-RBI performance.
• Answering the Pressure — UNOH made its push late, but AQ responded with composure in the circle and timely defense to finish the job.
• Momentum Found? — One win doesn't define a season… but it can absolutely change the direction of one.
Coach's Comments
After the split, Head Coach Patty Jansen reflected on a team that may have finally shaken off the weight it had been carrying.
"Sometimes in this game, things don't go your way and you start searching for a reason why," Jansen said. "But the truth is, there wasn't anything fundamentally wrong with this group. We didn't forget how to play softball. We just needed to trust ourselves again. And today, you saw what that looks like. Hopefully this is a reminder that we can play this game the right way just as easily as we got away from it."
Up Next
The Saints will look to build on the momentum when they travel to Indiana Tech on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with game two to follow at 3:00 p.m.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage of AQ Softball and all Saints sports.
