Southfield, Mich. — This season has taken a page out of the AQ Director of Athletic Communications' own "Wacky World of AQ Sports," and Sunday added another fitting chapter. From a blazing 18-4 start in Florida, to a seven-game conference skid to start the WHAC, to a young roster learning under first-year head coach Patty Jansen — the 2026 Saints have lived every high and low imaginable.
With the regular season closing, the mission was simple: get one, and give yourself a chance at two.
Aquinas did just that — and came within a swing of more.
Aquinas 5, Lawrence Tech 1 (Game 1)
The Saints opened the day with purpose, putting together one of their most complete performances of the season behind a dominant showing from Emma Austin.
Austin was in full command from the start, working a complete game and limiting Lawrence Tech to just one run while scattering six hits. She controlled the pace, worked efficiently, and never allowed the Blue Devils to string together momentum.
Offensively, Aquinas leaned into execution.
Daniela Anzaldua helped spark the scoring in the second inning, working into position before Mallory Buikema delivered a sacrifice fly to give AQ the early 1-0 lead.
The Saints broke things open in the third with a sequence that defined the game. Maci Willey and Alea Fisher set the table, McKenna Hinkle applied pressure, and Aquinas capitalized. Katie Carlson lifted a sacrifice fly, Jadalyn Lopez followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice, and Bella Asai delivered an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Hinkle added another run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that brought home Karigann Cuthbert to close out the scoring.
AQ finished with just four hits, but made every opportunity count — a team-wide effort that emphasized discipline, pressure, and execution over power.
Defensively, the Saints were flawless, backing Austin with a clean sheet in the field to secure a much-needed 5-1 victory.
Lawrence Tech 3, Aquinas 2 (Game 2)
Game two had a different feel — tighter, tenser, and ultimately decided by the smallest of margins.
Aquinas struck first as McKenna Hinkle delivered an early spark with a triple, later coming home on a sacrifice fly from Bella Asai to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.
Lawrence Tech responded, but AQ answered right back in the second. Daniela Anzaldua and Phoenix Shaw put together quality at-bats to set the stage for Mallory Buikema, who came through with an RBI double to even the game at 2-2.
From there, it turned into a battle.
Addy Buchin delivered a strong performance in the circle, working six innings and allowing just one earned run, keeping Aquinas within striking distance throughout.
The difference came in the third inning, when Lawrence Tech used a solo home run to take a 3-2 lead — a margin that would hold the rest of the way.
The Saints continued to push. Katie Carlson and Maci Willey each delivered extra-base hits, while Fisher, Shaw, Anzaldua, and Buikema contributed to a steady offensive presence.
But despite the pressure, the tying run never crossed.
Aquinas had chances late, including traffic in the seventh, but came up just short in a 3-2 loss — a game that felt within reach from first pitch to final out.
Saints Snapshots
• AQ dictated game one with discipline and intent — clean defense, controlled at-bats, and a pitching performance from Emma Austin that never allowed Lawrence Tech to build momentum.
• The third inning in the opener proved decisive — the Saints turned pressure into production, capitalizing on every opportunity to create separation without needing a big swing.
• McKenna Hinkle set the tone across both games, impacting the lineup with speed, situational execution, and an extra-base spark that kept AQ on the attack.
• Game two reflected the growth of this young roster — even after losing the lead, the Saints continued to respond and stayed within one swing throughout.
• The margin in the WHAC remains razor thin — AQ played well enough to sweep, but one moment proved the difference, reinforcing the importance of execution heading into postseason play.
Coach's Comments
"I'm proud of the way our group competed all day. Game one, we did a really good job of executing — moving runners, taking advantage of opportunities, and playing clean defense behind Emma. In game two, we were right there again. We had chances, we created pressure, but in this league, it comes down to one or two plays, and we just couldn't get that big swing when we needed it.
What I love is that this team keeps showing up, keeps battling, and keeps putting themselves in position. That's what you need heading into postseason play — now we just wait and see where we land."
Up Next
The Saints now play the waiting game to find out where — and perhaps if — they will be playing in the WHAC Tournament. While Sunday marks the end of the regular season for AQ, several teams still have games to complete due to weather, leaving postseason seeding in limbo.
Be sure to follow AQSaints.com and the Saints' social media channels for the latest updates.
