TUCSON, Ariz. – The Madonna University softball team didn't commit an error and had Dakota Wesleyan University down to its final strike, but four runs in the final two innings led to a 5-4 loss in eight innings for the Crusaders who fall to 4-6 at the Tucson Invitational Games.
Madonna is now 6-6 overall with two more games to play on Wednesday while the Tiger improve to 4-14 on the year.
Back-to-back singles and an RBI double opened the game for DWU and gave the visitors a quick 1-0 lead.
Madonna's offense came to life in the third as they scored two runs on two hits and a pair of Tiger errors. Becky Giacobbi (SO/Livonia, Mich.), who paced the team with two hits, singled on a bunt and scored on a two-out error off the bat of Mikey Kish (SR/Allen Park, Mich.). An error by the second basemen, off the bat of Nicky Salloum (SR/Livonia, Mich.), allowed Kish to score for a 2-1 lead.
Morgan Kaiser (SR/Flat Rock, Mich.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, promptly stole second and advanced to third on Kish's groundout. Salloum followed with a squeeze bunt that allowed Kaiser to add to the lead.
In the sixth, Halee Warren (SO/Canton, Mich.) sparked a rally with a two-out single. Kerstyn Comerzan (SO/Woodhaven, Mich.) followed with a double and another Giacobbi bunt base hit scored the fourth run for MU.
The Crusaders seemed to have the game locked up with two outs and two strikes on Alize Martinez, but an RBI single cut the lead in half. Another base hit loaded the bases then Amber Budmark doubled to score two and tie the game.
The international tiebreaker, which puts a runner at second base to begin the inning in extras, aided the Tigers as a two-out double plated the winning run. The Crusaders advanced their runner to third with one out but were unable to bring her home.
Paige Montague (JR/Clio, Mich.) took the loss as she allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in eight innings.
The offense tallied six hits in the contest and left seven runners on base. Giacobbi finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI while Salloum also drove in a run.
Madonna continues play on Wednesday with back-to-back contests against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foes Judson University (3:30 PM) and Olivet Nazarene University (5:30 PM).