Location: Wyoming, Mich. (Kimball Stadium)
Scores: Madonna 11, Aquinas 4 | Aquinas 8, Madonna 7
Records: MU 34-7; 13-5 WHAC | AQ 23-17; 11-7 WHAC
Next Event: Saturday April 25 vs. Aquinas (1pm - Ilitch Ballpark)
Box Score - GAME ONE| GAME TWO
WYOMING, Mich. - - The No. 13-ranked Madonna University baseball team used an 11-run, 12-hit attack in game one to clinch a share of the 2009 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference title, but could not continue that momentum into game two despite five RBI from senior first baseman Kevin Zerbo (Farmington, Mich.), falling 8-7.
Senior righty Jeff Sonnenberg (Lansing, Mich.) picked up his 10th win of the season to run his record to 10-1 overall, tying the single-season record for wins in game one, allowing four runs while striking out 10.
Junior Kyle Bolton (Burlington, Ont.) allowed six runs in game two in suffering the loss to drop to 6-2 on the year. Bolton struck out two and allowed just one walk.
At the plate senior third baseman Aaron Hacias (Sterling Heights, Mich.) drove in four runs on the day, collecting five hits on the day while Zerbo also carried a hot bat, driving in seven on the day while going 2-for-6 with a home run. Sophomore right fielder Matt Kay (Canton, Mich.) hit his seventh home run of the year in game one while driving in three.
In game one, Sonnenberg gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the first but the Crusader bats erased that deficit with six runs in the second inning to go on top 6-2. Kay got the inning going by reaching on a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by sophomore shortstop Mike Gansser (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) to put two on. Junior left fielder Ted Toune (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) then reached on another walk to load the bases for sophomore catcher Tarik Khasawneh (Canton, Mich.). Khasawneh then hit into a fielder's choice that was misplayed by the AQ infield allowing Gannser and Kay to score and tie the game at 2-2.
Junior courtesy runner Drew Fry (Madison Heights, Mich.) then moved to second on a failed pick off and the error allowed Toune to score and make it 3-2. A single from senior second baseman Ryan Morrow (Taylor, Mich.) scored Fry to push the MU lead to 4-2. Morrow was followed by a infield single from sophomore centerfielder Shawn Little (Canton, Mich.) and a walk to Hacias to load the bases for Zerbo. Zerbo singled up the middle to score Morrow and Little to make it 6-2 Madonna.
AQ trimmed the MU lead to just two at 6-4 by scoring two runs in the third but Madonna got those runs back in the top of the fourth as Hacias singled to start a two-out rally. Zerbo then reached on a throwing error to put two runners on for Kay. Kay then delivered a home run to left center to make it 9-4 MU after three and a half innings.
The Crusaders capped their scoring in the fifth, plating two more runs in the inning as Toune reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a single by Khasawneh. A Morrow single scored Toune and after Morrow got involved in a run-down between first and second on a steal attempt, Fry scored to make it 11-2 MU.
Sonnenberg allowed just three more runners the rest of the way to seal the win.
In the night cap, MU took the early lead as Morrow led off with a single and came around to score on a Hacias single for a 1-0 cushion.
AQ answered back with three runs in the second to go in front 3-1 on the MU starter Bolton.
The Crusaders tied the game at 3-3 in the third as Morrow led off with a single and moved to second when a ball off of Little's bat was misplayed, putting two runners on. Hacias then singled home Morrow to make it 3-2 and Zerbo the flied out to left, scoring Little to tie the game at three.
The Saints retook the lead in the third, scoring a single run and then went in front by three at 6-3 in the fourth before the Crusaders could trim the deficit back to two in the fifth.
Little and Zerbo teamed up again for a MU score as Little singled to left and moved to third on a Hacias double before another Zerbo sacrifice fly made it 6-4.
AQ responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame to go on top 8-4.
MU pulled to with in one in the seventh as Morro reached on a single and moved to second on a walk to Little. After Hacias went down, Zerbo delivered his team leading 11th home run of the season to cut the lead to one at 8-7. Kay then drew a walk and the pinch runner Toune moved to second on a single by senior left fielder Scott Boyer (Flat Rock, Mich.) to put the potential go-ahead run into scoring position. AQ reliever Earl Clover shut the door, getting Gannser to pop out to end the threat and give the Saints the split.
The Crusaders and Saints tangle again tomorrow at 1pm. Saturday is senior day at Ilitch Ballpark as the Madonna University Athletic Department will honor the Crusaders senior class - Boyer, Hacias, Morrow, Sonnenberg and Zerbo - between games of the double header.
