Lima, Ohio — Palm Sunday weekend is supposed to be about reflection, reset, and renewal.
For Aquinas Baseball, it turned into a long, frustrating four-game grind on the road.
The Saints battled. They swung back. They even had moments where it felt like momentum was ready to turn.
But over four games in Ohio, UNOH proved why home cooking can be so hard to overcome, as the Racers stayed relentless and completed the weekend sweep of Aquinas.
Now the challenge for AQ is simple: learn from it, flush it, and get ready for a home-heavy April that can still define this season.
Game 1 — UNOH 15, Aquinas 9 (Saturday)
The opener was the kind of game that leaves you shaking your head, because the Saints had more than enough fight to win it.
After falling behind 9-0 through three innings, Aquinas roared back with an eight-run fourth that completely changed the tone of the game. Stephen Weinert ignited the rally, Dylan Nguyen delivered a two-hit day with an RBI, and Joey Hysell, Kasy Shadduck, Brodie Gregory, Chase Robinson, JT LaMange, and Austin Alcumbrack all helped fuel the comeback surge.
By the time AQ added another in the fifth, the Saints had trimmed the margin to 12-9 and were right back in striking distance.
But UNOH answered late, using its depth at the plate to tack on three more and keep Aquinas from fully finishing the comeback.
It was a frustrating reminder of just how hard it is to erase early damage against a quality club.
Game 2 — UNOH 10, Aquinas 0 (Saturday)
The nightcap was all about missed opportunities and a Racer staff that never let AQ settle in.
Stephen Weinert doubled, Dylan Nguyen and Joey Hysell each collected hits, and Chase Robinson added another base knock, but the Saints couldn't string together the big inning they needed.
Aaron Moore battled through four innings before Aidan Schauss took over in relief, but UNOH's offense stayed aggressive from the jump, plating five in the opening frame and never really letting AQ breathe.
Even in a difficult result, the Saints kept competing at the plate and in the field, but the breakthrough swing never came.
Game 3 — UNOH 11, Aquinas 6 (Sunday)
Sunday's opener may have been the toughest one to swallow.
The Saints were right there.
Dylan Nguyen blasted a home run and drove in two, JT LaMange put together a huge three-hit, three-RBI game, and Chase Robinson continued his excellent weekend with another hit and two runs scored.
AQ stayed within striking distance throughout and carried a one-run game deep into the late innings before UNOH exploded for seven runs in the sixth.
That crooked number turned a tight WHAC fight into a difficult hill to climb, even after Aquinas scratched across one more in the seventh.
This was one of those games where the final score doesn't fully tell the story of how close it really was late.
Game 4 — UNOH 9, Aquinas 2 (Sunday)
The finale had a similar feel — competitive early, but the Racers found separation in the middle innings.
Joey Hysell opened the day with a hit, Chase Robinson reached and stayed active, while Blake Bennett delivered an RBI knock late. Austin Deller also provided a spark with a double and later scored as the Saints tried to chip away.
Ethan Bowen gave AQ a chance through the early frames, but UNOH's five-run fifth proved decisive.
Even down late, Aquinas continued to compete, pushing runs across in both the eighth and ninth innings to avoid going quietly.
That late fight matters.
Because this group still has plenty of baseball left in front of it.
The Saints now sit at 12-17 overall and 7-5 in the WHAC, while UNOH improved to 20-12 and 10-2 in the conference after the four-game sweep.
Saints Snapshots
• Palm Sunday Grind — Four games on the road against one of the WHAC's best made for a brutal weekend test, and the Saints never stopped competing.
• The Big Punch Back — The eight-run fourth inning in Game 1 was the loudest reminder that this AQ lineup can erupt at any moment.
• Closer Than It Looks — Two of the four games were tight into the late innings, showing just how slim the margin was all weekend.
• Nguyen Stayed Hot — Dylan Nguyen delivered key offense throughout the series, highlighted by his Sunday home run.
• April Sets the Stage — Fourteen of the Saints' next 20 games come at home, giving AQ a major chance to reset the WHAC race.
• Flush It Fast — Rivalry week arrives immediately, and there may be no better medicine than Cornerstone coming to town.
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Chris LaMange said the Saints understand the challenge they ran into and the urgency of what comes next.
"That was a tough weekend against a very good team," LaMange said. "We had real opportunities in two of those games, one-run type games late, and just couldn't quite do enough to pull out a victory. Credit UNOH, they were relentless all four games. Now the focus has to be on regrouping quickly and getting ready for April. We're excited about having 14 of our next 20 at home, and that gives us a great chance to get back to playing the kind of baseball we know we're capable of."
Up Next
The Saints will have the week to lick their wounds before hosting arch-rival Cornerstone for a pair of doubleheaders on Good Friday and Saturday — a prime opportunity to reestablish Aquinas as a top-tier WHAC squad.
All four games will be streamed on the AQSaints YouTube Network.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postgame coverage of AQ Baseball and all Saints athletics.
