Site: Adrian, Mich. (SHU Baseball Diamond)
Scores: Madonna 14, Siena Heights 4 (8 inn.); Madonna 4, Siena Heights 1
Records: MU (24-21; 11-13 WHAC), SHU (15-25; 4-16 WHAC)
Next MU event: Friday, April 25 vs. Rochester (Ilitch Ballpark) – 4 p.m.
ADRIAN, Mich. -- Behind a 20-hit attack in game one and three late runs in game two, the Madonna University baseball team swept its Wednesday afternoon (April 23) doubleheader against Siena Heights. MU won game one by a 14-4 final in eight innings before pulling off a 4-1 come-from-behind win in game two at the SHU Baseball Diamond.
In the day's opener, sophomore center fielder Shane Dokey (Howell, Mich. / Brighton), redshirt freshman designated hitter Taylor Grzelakowski (Fraser, Mich. / Fraser) and freshman second baseman Ryan Lambrecht (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lake Orion) each had three hits with Grzelakowski driving in five runs to go along with three RBIs from Dokey and two more from Lambrecht. Freshman left fielder Thomas Daffern (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc) drove in two runs as well in his return to the lineup after missing nearly a month with a lower body injury. The Crusaders first three batters - Dokey, Lambrecht and Grzelakowski - went a combined 9-for-14 with 10 runs batted in during game one.
Senior right hander Dane Staples (Plymouth, Mich. / Canton) picked up the win, tossing the first five innings, scattering four hits. Staples (2-1) struck out one before giving way to classmate and fellow righty Travis Schuba (Rapid City, Mich. / Kalkaska). Schuba threw the final three innings to pick up his second save of the season and the 10th of his career to move into a tie with John McCracken (2004-08) and Adam Kline (2002-05).
The Crusaders plated two runs in the top of the first on Daffern's two RBI single for a 2-0 lead. The lead grew to 6-0 in the second with Dokey, Lambrecht and Grzelakowski all driving in runs for the 6-0 cushion.
Senior third baseman Ryan Lech (Macomb, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) doubled home MU's seventh run two batters into the third before senior catcher Donny Holland (White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland) reached when his sacrifice fly was dropped in left for an 8-0 lead. Dokey drove in another run with a single up the middle for a 9-0 lead before he scored the 10th run on a groundout.
SHU scored three times in the fifth inning with Logan Curtis delivering a two-run double, cutting the MU lead to 10-3. The Saints added another run in the sixth to pull within six, 10-4.
MU got one of those runs back in the seventh on a single from Grzelakowski that gave the Crusaders an 11-4 lead. The Crusaders scored three more runs in the top of the eighth with Dokey, Lambrech and Grzelakowski all driving in runs to give MU a 10-run cushion, 14-4.
Schuba worked around a pair of singles in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of ground outs for the 14-4 win in eight innings.
Matt King (2-5) took the loss for SHU, giving up 10 runs in his two innings of work.
In the nightcap, the Madonna bats cooled slightly in a 4-1, come-from-behind victory. Holland led MU at the plate in game two with two hits while Lambrecht drove in a pair of runs.
Schuba (6-2) picked up the victory in his second appearance of the day, not allowing a hit while striking out two in his 1.2 innings of work in relief of sophomore righty Adam Prashad (Mississauga, Ontario / Mississauga Secondary). Prashad threw the first 5.1 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing one earned run in the no decision.
SHU took advantage of three hits in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead before MU tied the game in the top of the third.
Holland reached with one out and was run for by freshman Dee Jawad (Dearborn Heights, Mich. / Crestwood). Jawad moved to second when Dokey reached on a fielder's choice that was thrown into center field to put runners at second and third. Lambrecht delivered a sacrifice fly to left that scored Jawad and tie the game at 1-1.
Both sides threatened over the next three innings as SHU saw its leadoff batter reach in five of the first six innings but the Saints only had their one run to show for it.
MU took the lead in the top of the seventh as Lech led off and reached second on a fielding miscue. Freshman right fielder Zack Schmidtke (Dearborn Heights, Mich. / Divine Child Catholic) dropped down a bunt single and when the ball was thrown away, Lech scored to give MU a 2-1 lead. Schmidtke came home on a Dokey triple for a 3-1 lead before Lambrecht plated Dokey with a sacrifice fly for the 4-1 lead.
Schuba sent the side down in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory.
Tayler Thelen (3-4) suffered the loss for SHU, allowing three earned runs while striking out two in 6.1 innings of work.
The Crusaders close out the home schedule on Friday (April 25) with a 4 p.m. game against Rochester at Iltich Ballpark.
