Fort Wayne, Ind. — Somewhere between the sunshine and swagger of Florida and the gray grind of the WHAC, the magic has gone missing.
For the Aquinas Saints, the confidence and consistency that once made this lineup feel dangerous every inning has been replaced by a frustrating search for answers. Since coming home, it's been a nightmare stretch, the kind that makes you question rhythm, timing, and maybe even your own shadow.
Saturday's split felt like it might be the spark.
Sunday was supposed to be the climb.
Instead, Indiana Tech reminded the Saints just how hard this league can be when confidence is fragile and every inning feels heavier than the last.
Game 1 — Indiana Tech 9, Aquinas 5
The opener had the feel of another chance to turn the corner.
AQ struck first in the opening frame when McKenna Hinkle reached and came around to score on a Jadalyn Lopez RBI single, giving the Saints an early 1-0 edge.
But Indiana Tech answered quickly, using a two-run homer in the second and continuing to pressure the Saints throughout the middle innings.
Katie Carlson continued to be a bright spot offensively, finishing with two hits, including a sixth-inning two-run homer that helped breathe life back into the Saints. Hinkle added a two-hit game and scored twice, while Maci Willey came through with a huge two-run single during a four-run sixth inning rally.
Abby Nieswender added a pinch-hit knock, and Daniela Anzaldua reached and later scored as AQ trimmed the deficit to 8-5 and briefly put the pressure back on the Warriors.
But Indiana Tech answered with an insurance run in the bottom half, stopping the momentum before the Saints could fully complete the comeback.
It was another game where AQ showed the offense is still in there.
Just not consistently enough yet.
Game 2 — Indiana Tech 3, Aquinas 1
The nightcap was the kind of game that leaves you shaking your head because the margin felt so small.
Bella Asai got things started in the second with a ringing double, and Daniela Anzaldua followed with an RBI single to give AQ the early lead.
For a moment, it felt like the Saints had found the formula.
Addy Buchin was solid in the circle, keeping Indiana Tech to just six hits over six innings and giving Aquinas every chance to grind out the split.
But the Warriors manufactured two runs in the second and added another in the third, forcing AQ to play from behind.
Jadalyn Lopez added a sixth-inning single, Katie Carlson drew two walks, and the Saints put runners on late, but the big hit never came.
That's been the story of this stretch.
The pieces are there.
The breakthrough just keeps staying one swing away.
Saints Snapshots
• Still Searching for the Spark — The flashes are there, but AQ is still chasing the consistency that made the Florida trip feel so promising.
• The Rally Gene Remains — Even down late in Game 1, the Saints showed fight with a four-run sixth that nearly flipped the day.
• Carlson Keeps Producing — Katie Carlson's bat continues to be a stabilizing force, highlighted by her Game 1 homer and another productive day at the plate.
• Margins Are Thin — Game 2 felt like one pitch, one bounce, or one swing away from changing the entire Sunday.
• The Mental Battle Begins — At this point, the challenge is as much confidence and belief as it is mechanics and execution.
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Patty Jansen knows the talent is still there — now the challenge is helping a young team fight through the hardest part of sports.
"We're in a rut right now, there's no sense pretending otherwise," Jansen said. "This is a young team, and sometimes the toughest opponent you face isn't across the field, it's the mentality that comes with a difficult stretch. The talent hasn't disappeared. The ability hasn't disappeared. Our challenge now is learning how to push through adversity, trust what we know we can do, and find a way to play free again. That's the next step for this group."
Up Next
The Saints will stay on the road for a pivotal midweek doubleheader in Southfield, Michigan against the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech — a true pinnacle pair for a team looking to reverse its course.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postgame coverage of AQ Baseball and all Saints athletics.
