Grand Rapids, MI-
The Aquinas College baseball team completed a four-game sweep of the Marygrove Mustangs at Kimble Stadium to move up to sixth in the WHAC standings with two weeks to play. The Saints improved to 11-14 in WHAC play and 16-21 on the season. Aquinas will now prep for a non-conference affair in Holland against Hope College (18-12) on Tuesday.
Patrick Giddings
The Saints used a strong performance from Christian Potter to kick-off the four game set with a 7-0 victory. The senior from Grand Rapids picked up his first win of the season, pitching eight innings of shutout baseball. Potter scattered six hits and struck-out five. Ben Walton (Marshall/Marshall) keyed the offense with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth. Walton would tally his second hit and third RBI of the game with an eighth inning single. Michael Oshinski (Grand Rapids/MCC) tagged Marygrove pitching for two hits and two RBI.
The back half of Friday's doubleheader saw the Saints homer twice more in a 14-3 victory. Patrick Giddings (Muskegon/MCC) and Walton both tallied round-trippers for the Saints. Giddings, along with Mike Eastman (Hastings/Hastings), Justen Caudill (Monroe/Monroe), and Mike Priest (Grand Rapids/Catholic Central) all recorded two RBI in the game. David Foster (Mt. Pleasant/MCC) improved to 3-3 on the season after allowing three runs on six hits during his five innings of work.
The opening game on Saturday saw the Saints spot the Mustangs two runs early, but Aquinas would rally and score the final twelve runs of the contest to win 12-2. Matt Krzykwa (Grand Rapids/Catholic Central) picked up the victory in relief as he held Marygrove to one hit in his two innings of work. Doug Zelenka (Grand Haven/Grand Haven) paced the offense, notching two hits with three RBI and two runs scored. Greg Chulski (Kenowa Hills/MCC) also added a pair of hits and had two RBI.
The final game of the series saw the Saints complete the sweep by winning 4-2. Nick Eely (Muskegon/MCC) pitched two perfect innings to pick up the win, while Kameron Joostberns (Battle Creek/Kellogg Community College) notched his first save of the season. A Greg Chulski home run and a three-run sixth inning was just enough offense for the Saints. Patrick Giddings capped a solid weekend by going 2-3 with one run scored.