Howell, Mich. — This one had everything you want this time of year… and everything you don't.
Playoff positioning on the line. Familiar opponents circling each other. Momentum swings, pressure innings, and late-game drama. If Saturday was a preview of the WHAC Tournament, buckle up — because Aquinas and Cleary are about to run it back with even more on the line.
The Saints came up just short in both ends of the doubleheader, but don't let the results fool you — this is a dangerous AQ team heading into postseason play.
Cleary 11, Aquinas 3 (Game 1)
Game one turned early, but even as the scoreboard tilted, the Saints continued to grind — something that showed up all day long in Howell.
Aquinas created traffic from the jump. Dylan Nguyen and Chase Robinson helped spark the offense, with Robinson continuing his strong stretch at the top of the order, reaching base multiple times and scoring twice. Joey Hysell added a hit, while Brayden Monroe came off the bench and delivered an RBI knock, continuing his knack for timely contributions.
The Saints found ways to scratch across runs in different innings. Brodie Gregory helped manufacture one with aggressive baserunning and pressure on the defense, while Zachary Hayes later drove in a run with a patient approach at the plate.
AQ showed discipline throughout, drawing seven walks and forcing Cleary's pitching staff to work deep into counts — a trend that carried into game two.
On the mound, the Saints pieced it together with multiple arms. Cameron Gross provided a steady inning to limit damage, while Carson Winans finished strong with quality outs late. Despite a couple of big innings from Cleary, AQ never stopped competing — continuing to push through every frame.
Cleary 5, Aquinas 4 (Game 2)
If game one was about weathering the storm, game two was about responding — and the Saints answered in a big way.
Aquinas came out sharp and stayed in it from the first pitch to the final swing.
Chase Robinson once again set the tone, doubling early and scoring, while Zachary Hayes delivered a huge two-RBI performance, including a clutch swing and a sacrifice fly that gave AQ a late advantage. Brayden Monroe stayed hot, collecting two hits and scoring a run, while Dylan Nguyen worked multiple walks to keep innings alive.
Joey Hysell added an RBI in a key moment, and the Saints showed exactly what you want this time of year — patience, pressure, and the ability to create runs without needing the big swing.
On the mound, AQ battled.
After a challenging first inning, Aaron Moore, Aaron Hileman, and Hunter Doyle combined to settle things down, giving the Saints a chance to claw back. Then came Kaleb Mitchelson, who was outstanding in the middle innings, attacking hitters and keeping Cleary off the board to flip momentum back to the AQ dugout.
The breakthrough came in the seventh.
With the bases loaded and the pressure building, the Saints delivered — tying the game and then taking the lead in a gritty, postseason-style inning that showcased exactly what this group is capable of.
But in the ninth, Cleary had the final answer.
With two outs and traffic on, the Cougars found a gap and walked it off, sealing a 5-4 win in a game that felt like it could've gone either way until the final pitch.
Saints Snapshots
• The Saints didn't blink. Down early in game one, down late in game two — AQ kept answering. That's postseason DNA.
• Chase Robinson was a tone-setter all day, living on the bases and forcing Cleary to defend every pitch.
• Brayden Monroe continues to rise at the right time — competitive at-bats, timely swings, and impact moments.
• The bullpen showed tournament toughness in game two — attack mode, zero fear, giving AQ a chance to win late.
• Let's be honest… these two teams know each other now. There are no secrets left — only execution on Wednesday.
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Chris LaMange didn't shy away from the challenge ahead — and the opportunity in front of his group:
"I love the fight in this team. We didn't get the results, but we competed pitch by pitch all day. That second game is exactly who we are — we respond, we stay together, and we put ourselves in position. Now it comes down to execution. We know them, they know us, and I trust our guys to be ready when it matters most."
Up Next
The regular season is officially in the rearview.
Aquinas closes at 25-24 overall and 17-11 in WHAC play, and now the focus shifts to the tournament — where records reset and opportunities open.
And in a twist that only baseball can deliver, the Saints will face Cleary… again.
For the fifth straight game.
This time, the stage shifts to the Meijer Sports Complex, as AQ co-hosts the WHAC Tournament with Cornerstone. First pitch is set for Wednesday at 4:00 PM.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postseason coverage.
If you can't be there… we stream there.
And if Saturday proved anything — it's this:
The Saints are right there.
