Site: Livonia, Mich. (Ilitch Ballpark)
Final Score: Indiana Tech 4, Madonna University 3
Records: MU 46-9; IIT 33-26
Next MU event: Tuesday, May 18 vs. TBA (NAIA National Championship Opening Round) 

BOX SCORE

LIVONIA, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - The No. 10-ranked Madonna University baseball team scored first but could not hold off a pesky Indiana Tech squad and fell 4-3 in the final game of the 2010 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Baseball Championship on Thursday (May 13) at Ilitch Ballpark.

By virtue of the win, Tech will be awarded the WHAC's automatic bid to the 2010 NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

The Crusaders (the visiting team) struck first with a run in the top of the first inning to go in front 1-0. Billy Hardin III (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central/Ashland) doubled to left center with one away and came home two batters later on a single by Zach Flavin (Novi, Mich./Novi) to stake MU to the lead.

The lead grew to 2-0 in the top of the fifth when Spencer Sarel (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) led off the inning with his second home run of the season for the two-run cushion.

Tech took the lead in the fifth, plating three runs off of MU starter Kyle Bolton (Burlington, Ont./Notre Dame/Indiana Tech) to take a 3-2 lead. Gary King, Justin Mederios and Chad Geier all drove in runs for the Warriors.

MU tied the game at three-all in the top of the eighth when Ted Toune (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center/Lansing CC) clubbed his 10th home run of the season down the right field line.

The game did not remain tied long as Tech took advantage of lead off single followed by a hit batter and back-to-back walks to force in a run and take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth.

The Crusaders threatened in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with two outs but winning pitcher Zack Brown got Brad Lineberry (Canton, Mich./Plymouth) to pop out to end the game and give the Warriors their second straight WHAC Tournament crown.

The Crusaders have a chance at an at-large bid for the NAIA National Tournament when the field of 46 is announced later tonight.