THE BASICS

Scores: MU 4, USF 5; MU 12, USF 4

Records: Madonna (7-5), University of St. Francis (1-4)

Location: Route 66 Stadium - Joliet, Illinois

JOLIET, Ill. -  The Madonna University baseball team split with the Fighting Saints of the University of St. Francis, losing 4-5 in game one before exploding for 12 runs in game two and winning by a score of 12-4. Donovan Thacker suffered his first loss of the season while  the bat of Jalen Thomas came alive to help salvage the doubleheader split.

GAME 1: Madonna 4, St. Francis 5

• Second Inning

  • The Crusaders struck first thanks to a pair of throwing errors by the Fighting Saints defense that scored Alex Garbacik and Noah Moore before a double by Adrian Reed plated Gordon Ferguson for a 3-0 lead.

• Fifth Inning

  • After tying the game in the third off a two-out triple and a Crusader error, the Saints took a late inning lead thanks to a pair of clutch hits that put the Blue and Gold behind 5-3.

• Seventh Inning

  • Down to their final three outs, the Crusaders were able to push one run across off back-to-back doubles by Steve Parker and Frankie Lucska, although it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

GAME 2: Madonna 12, St. Francis 4

• Third Inning

  • Down 2-0, the Crusaders rallied for three runs off four hits and a walk before Thomas stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run to deep left center field, giving MU a 6-2 lead.

• Fifth Inning    

  • The offense once again broke out in the fifth as Parker, Lucska, Thomas, Ferguson and Joey Pejuan all singled to plate four more runs and extend the Crusaders lead to 10-2.

• Seventh Inning

  • Jerad Dokey knocked in a pair of RBI on a one-out single up the middle to add a pair of insurance runs, setting the stage for John Beuckeleare to close the door on the Fighting Saints chance of a comeback, who did just that.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Game One

  • The Crusaders outhit the Fighting Saints 9-5 while both teams committed two errors.

  • G. Ferguson and Thomas were the lone Crusaders with multiple hits in the contest combining for a 4-for-7 game.

  • Lucska, G. Ferguson and Reed knocked in the three RBI for the Blue and Gold

  • Thacker suffered his first loss, lasting four innings and allowing three earned runs on two walks and four hits.

  • Ryan Mount relieved Thacker of his duties before Greg Goodbred hurled the final 1.1 scoreless innings of the game.

• Game Two

  • The Blue and Gold racked up 13 hits compared to St. Francis' 6.

  • Eight different Crusaders collected a hit in the contest with Thomas leading the way with four RBI thanks to his monster shot to left center field.

  • Pejuan finished with a 2-for-3 game, scoring twice and knocking in two RBI as well.

  • Jack Ferguson earned the win off 4.1 innings of work with four earned runs and three strikeouts before Ross Rickel and Beuckeleare shut the door in relief.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will complete their four-game series with St. Francis at Route 66 Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.

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

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