THE BASICS

Scores: MU 4, CU 0; MU 2, CU 3

Records: Madonna (6-4), #RV Cumberland (2-5)

Location: Ernest L. Stockton Field - Lebanon, Tennessee

LEBANON, Tenn. -  Following the cancellation of a weekend series with Trinity Christian College, the Madonna University baseball team travelled to Lebanon, Tenn. for a four-game series with Cumberland University. The Crusaders took game one with a dominant pitching performance from Donovan Thacker but dropped game two despite grabbing  an early lead.

GAME 1: Madonna 4, Cumberland 0

• Second Inning

  • Stephen Parker led the inning off with a double down the right field line before advancing to third on a Matthew Staelgrave groundout and scored thanks to a two-out single by Alex Garbacik.

• Third Inning

  • Much like the previous inning, Joey Pejuan doubled to left field and advanced to third base thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Gordon Ferguson. Pejuan then scored on a Jalen Thomas infield single that increased the Crusaders lead to 2-0.

• Sixth Inning

  • As Thacker continued to dominate on the mound, the Crusaders added two more insurance runs thanks to a pair of errors by the Cumberland infield.

GAME 2: Madonna 2, Cumberland 3

• Second Inning

  • Picking up where they left off in game one, the Crusaders struck first in the nightcap thanks to a Staelgrave double that scored Thomas, who had previously singled and stole second base.

  • With two outs, a double steal plated Staelgrave and increased the Crusaders lead to two runs.

• Fifth Inning    

  • The Phoenix scored their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning off a home run to left center field before plating two more in the fifth.

  • Greg Goodbred replaced Jack Ferguson on the mound, allowing two hits and two runs for a 3-2 Cumberland lead.

• Seventh Inning

  • Despite a leadoff double by Parker, the Crusaders were not able to capitalize and even the score.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Game One

  • Parker led the offense as the only player with multiple hits, finishing the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

  • Six other Crusaders recorded hits in the contest as Thomas, Noah Moore, and Garbacik collected the three RBI for the Blue and Gold.

  • Thacker increased his record to 3-0 as he lasted 6.1 innings, striking out six batters and not allowing a single walk. He allowed just three hits and no runs in his win.

• Game Two

  • Thomas, Parker, Staelgraeve and Moore tallied the only four hits for the Crusaders in game two, combining for a 4-for-9 day while all other MU players were held hitless.

  • J. Ferguson had a strong outing, pitching four innings and allowing just one run on three hits and five strikeouts.

  • Goodbred entered the game for the final two innings, allowing two runs and three hits, suffering his first loss of the season.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will return to Ernest L. Stockton Field tomorrow, February 17 for the final two games of the series with Cumberland. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:30 p.m.

• Live coverage links, if available, will be posted at www.mucrusaders.com.

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