LIVONIA, Mich. -  The Madonna University baseball team got the 2018-19 season off to a rousing start with a sweep of the University of Northwestern Ohio at Ilitch Ballpark on Saturday afternoon. The win gives the Crusaders a 2-0 record while UNOH falls to 1-2 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

GAME ONE: Madonna 9, UNOH 3

• Second Inning

  • With Donovan Thacker dealing, the offense gave him all the support he needed in the second. Back-to-back walks to Stephen Parker and Jerad Dokey and a pair of wild pitches scored the first run then an Adrian Reed singled plated another for the 2-0 lead.

• Third Inning

  • A free pass again put Madonna in position to do some damage in the third as Gordon Ferguson was hit by a pitch and scored on a Nick Sykes double. Parker then delivered a sacrifice fly to push the lead to four.

• Fifth Inning

  • Ferguson and Parker we in on the scoring against in the fifth as the former singled with one out and scored on a Parker single. Jalen Thomas scored on a wild pitch and a Dokey single plated the seventh MU run.

• Sixth Inning

  • Two more walks, this time by Reed and Joey Pejuan, set the stage for Thomas who doubled with two outs for the 9-0 advantage.

• Seventh Inning

  • A walk, hit-by-pitch and an MU error led to three UNOH runs in the seventh, but a pair of flyouts ended the game.

GAME TWO: Madonna 8, UNOH 2

• Second Inning

  • After freshman right-hander Victor Mencotti breezed through the first two innings, the offense got on the board early again. Three walks loaded the bases and a Noah Renaud sacrifice fly gave the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead.

• Fourth Inning

  • Parker led off the inning with a walk, Noah Moore singled an Renaud doubled in a run. A wild pitch added another and a Reed single made it 4-0. Ferguson added to the lead with a double to left to score Reed.

• Fifth Inning

  • Another Renaud single plated Dokey for the sixth MU run and Alex Garbacik delivered a dagger with a two-out, two-run single to left center to score Renaud and Moore for the 8-0 lead.

• Seventh Inning

  • Two hits, a walk and a passed ball led to the only two runs for the Racers in the Crusaders' 8-2 win.

INSIDE THE BOX

• GAME ONE

  • Madonna tallied eight hits led by a pair from Ferguson (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and Thomas (2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI)

  • Four other players tallied a hit

  • Parker finished 1-for-1 with a walk, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base

  • Thacker earned the win as he tossed five shutout innings and allowed two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

• GAME TWO

  • Mencotti was stellar in his collegiate debut as he allowed three hits, walked one and struck out eight over five shutout frames

  • Renaud paced MU's seven-hit attack as he went 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBI

  • Five other players tallied a hit and drove in a run

  • Moore scored twice and finished 1-for-4

COACHES CORNER

• "I'm really proud of how the team came out today. We pitched well, had timely hits and kept our energy up throughout the day. We have some work to do, but overall the guys played hard and represented us well." - Head Coach Ted Falkner

• "We did a great job executing on the mound. We controlled both sides of the plate and kept hitters off balance. Donovan Thacker and Victor Mencotti controlled the strike zone and competed well for us. We pitched to our strengths and trusted our defense which was great all day." - Pitching Coach Taylore Baker

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders wrap up their fall home slate on Sunday, Sept. 30 when Roosevelt University (Ill.) visits Ilitch Ballpark for a doubleheader with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

• Live coverage will be available on the Madonna Athletics Network at www.mucrusaders.com/live.

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