Livonia, Mich. — Finally, they found a venue and were able to play this match-up… and the Saints made sure it was worth the wait.
After a postponement and a venue switch that sent the doubleheader to a neutral site compliments of WHAC foe Madonna, Aquinas finally got its shot at Rochester Christian on Friday. No complaints. No excuses. Just a team ready to play—and once the Saints got on the diamond, they made it clear they weren't leaving anything to chance.
Two games. Two wins. And maybe most importantly, a team starting to find its stride at exactly the right time.
Aquinas 7, Rochester Christian 1 (Game 1)
From the opening inning, the Saints looked locked in.
Alea Fisher sparked things at the top, getting on and creating immediate pressure, while McKenna Hinkle followed suit to keep the line moving. That set the stage for Katie Carlson, who delivered a monster performance in the middle of the order.
Carlson went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and two RBIs, driving the ball with authority and coming through in key spots. Jadalyn Lopez added a pair of hits to keep innings alive, while Bella Asai matched that with two hits of her own and an RBI.
The decisive moment came in the fifth inning when Daniela Anzaldua ripped a two-run single, stretching the lead and giving Aquinas full control. Maci Willey brought her usual energy to the lineup, scoring a run and creating havoc on the bases, and Mallory Buikema added a hit to round out a balanced offensive attack.
In the circle, Emma Austin was exactly what the Saints needed—steady, composed, and efficient. The freshman went the distance, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four. After Rochester Christian scratched across a run in the third, Austin shut the door and never let momentum shift.
Aquinas 11, Rochester Christian 3 (Game 2)
Game two started as a battle—and ended as a statement.
After trading blows early, the Saints delivered the knockout punch in the fifth inning, erupting for six runs and blowing the game wide open.
McKenna Hinkle was sensational, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, setting the tone every time she stepped in. Alea Fisher followed with three hits, two runs, and an RBI, continuing a dominant day at the top of the lineup.
Daniela Anzaldua added two hits and scored twice, while Karigann Cuthbert provided a spark with a double and two runs scored. Phoenix Shaw came through with a key RBI knock, and both Katie Carlson and Meagan Postma added RBIs as the Saints showcased depth from top to bottom.
That fifth inning was the difference—quality at-bats, relentless pressure, and the ability to capitalize. Aquinas forced mistakes, took extra bases, and turned a tight game into a runaway.
In the circle, Addy Buchin worked through five innings, striking out six to earn the win, while Sydney Bosgraaf closed things out with a clean final frame to secure the sweep.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Saints have now won three straight and improve to 25-15 overall and 7-11 in WHAC play. Rochester Christian falls to 8-30 and 0-19 in the conference.
Saints Snapshots
- Sweep Secured — AQ takes both, now 25-15 (7-11 WHAC), winners of three straight.
- Table Setters — Fisher + Hinkle combine for 9 hits and 7 runs across the twinbill.
- Carlson Clutch — 4 hits, 5 RBI, double and triple to anchor the middle.
- Fifth-Inning Flood — Six-run 5th in Game 2 turns a tight game into a rout.
- Circle Command — Austin (CG, 1 ER) + Buchin/Bosgraaf combo limit RCU to 4 runs on the day.
Coach's Comments
"I'm really proud of how this group handled everything leading up to today," said Head Coach Patty Jansen. "With the schedule changes and moving sites, it would have been easy to lose focus. Instead, they showed up ready, competed the right way, and played for each other. That's the kind of growth we've been building toward."
Up Next
The Saints will be back on the road Sunday when they travel to Southfield, Michigan to take on the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech for a WHAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postgame coverage of AQ Softball and all Saint sports. If you can't be there, we stream there. #SaintsMarchOn
