Site: Dayton, Tenn. (Senter Field)
Score: No. 20 Georgetown 8, No. 24 Madonna 3
Score: No. 24 Madonna 5, Bryan 3
Records: MU (1-1), GC (3-1) BC (2-1)
Next MU event: Saturday, Feb. 9 – vs. Rio Grande (Cleveland, Tenn.) – 11 a.m.

DAYTON, Tenn. – The No. 24-ranked Madonna University baseball team got three hits from freshman second baseman Shane Dokey on the day to go along with a two-run home run from senior designated hitter Spencer Sarel to down host Bryan on Friday afternoon (Feb. 8) by a final of 5-3. MU dropped its season opener earlier in the day to No. 20-ranked Georgetown, 8-3.

Georgetown
A four-run third inning by No. 20 Georgetown was more than the Tigers needed in taking the 8-3 win from the Crusaders in MU's season opener.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Tigers got to Crusader starter Josh Vandemark (Hicksville, Ohio / Hicksville) for four runs on five hits in the third to take a 4-0 lead. A one-out error started the inning and EJ Murray delivered a two-run, bases clearing triple to stake the Georgetown to a 2-0 lead. GC tacked on another run before Vandemark got a double play to end the inning.

MU answered back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to pull within one, 4-3. Senior left fielder Steve Pelletier (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Harrison) reached on a one-out single and moved to second when Dokey (Howell, Mich. / Brighton) reached on an error to put two on. Senior right fielder Brad Lineberry (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) then delivered a double to right center that scored both runners to make it 4-2. After Lineberry stole third, Sarel (Brighton, Mich. / Brighton) made it 4-3 with a sacrifice fly that scored Lineberry to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

The MU momentum was short lived as Georgetown scored a single run in the fourth before tacking on two more in the fifth and another in the seventh for the 8-3 final.

Vandemark took the loss, going the first 4.1 innings, giving up six earned runs and striking out four before giving way to freshman righty Adam Prashad(Mississauga, Ontario / Mississauga Secondary). Prashad threw the final 2.2 innings, scattering three hits in his collegiate debut. Tyler Arthur threw a complete game for Georgetown, striking out six and allowing a pair of earned runs.

Dokey and Lineberry each posted two hits with Lineberry driving in a pair of runs for Madonna. Mike Steinke and Martin Lemus each had three hits for GC.

Bryan
The Crusaders rallied from a 1-0 deficit after an inning to even their season record at 1-1 with a 5-3 come-from-behind win over host Bryan to wrap up opening day 2013.

Bryan got to MU senior starter Matthew Cook (Dresden, Ontario / Lambton Kent Secondary) for a run on a pair of hits in the bottom of the first before MU evened the game at 1-1 in the second.

Senior third baseman Justin Cook (Dresden, Ontario / Lambton Kent Secondary) led off by being hit by a pitch and came all the way around to score on a RBI double by Sarel to make it 1-1.

After a scoreless third, MU added two runs in the top of the fourth when Sarel connected on his first home run of the season that scored Cook – who again reached after being hit – for a 3-1 Crusader lead.

The lead grew to 4-1 in the top of the fifth as Lineberry singled home sophomore Mike Tibbits (Plymouth, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) for the three-run lead.

The Crusaders tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Tibbits came home all the way from second on a wild pitch and an error in the same play for a 5-1 lead.

A lead off double followed by a two-run homer from Blake Johnson brought Bryan back within two, 5-3, in the bottom of the seventh but Cook sent the next three batters down in order, getting a pair of ground outs wrapped around a strikeout for the complete game win.

Cook threw all seven innings, striking out six for his first win of the season. Joey Vega went the first five for Bryan, giving up four runs in suffering the loss. Lineberry and Sarel each had a pair of hits in the nightcap with Sarel driving in three runs. In addition to Johnson's hit, five other Lions posted base hits in the loss.

MU returns to the field on Saturday (Feb. 9), traveling to Cleveland, Tenn., to take on Rio Grande at 11 a.m. before closing its season opening weekend with a showdown against No. 3-ranked Lee.