THE BASICS

Scores: MU 3, BC 4 (10 innings); MU 11, BC 9

Records: Madonna (5-1), Bryan (4-2)

Location: Sentor Field - Dayton, Tennessee

DAYTON, Tenn. -  The Madonna University baseball team opened their extremely difficult spring season with a double header at Sentor Field, the home of NAIA No. 15 Bryan College, dropping game one in walk-off fashion and seizing game two through some late inning heroics of their own. The Blue and Gold improve to 5-1 on the season while the Lions fall to 4-2.  

GAME 1: Madonna 3, Bryan 4 (10 innings)

• Second Inning

  • The Crusaders struck first in the top of the second inning as Jalen Thomas ripped a single to right field before Gordon Ferguson blasted a 2-run bomb to left center field.

• Sixth Inning

  • Madonna added an insurance run in the sixth following a pitching change from the Lions. With one out, Frankie Lucska singled to third base and was pinch ran for by Kyle Aniol before G. Ferguson reached on an error by the Bryan second baseman, advancing Aniol to second base. Joey Pejuan walked, loading the bases as Noah Moore stepped to the plate who also walked, scoring Aniol for a 3-0 Crusaders lead.

  • The Lions evened the score at 3-3 off two hits and one error in the bottom half of the inning.

• Tenth Inning

  • John Beuckeleare, who threw the previous three innings was replaced by Ray Richard to begin the inning, giving up a leadoff double before a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third base. After a hit batter and an intentional walk that loaded the bases, another hit batter brought the winning run across the plate for the Lions.

GAME 2: Madonna 11, Bryan 9

• Third Inning

  • G. Ferguson continued where he left off in game one, this time homering to right center field for a 1-0 MU lead. The Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own off a leadoff single that eventually scored on a sacrifice fly.

• Fourth Inning    

  • Lucska began the fourth inning with a leadoff walk but was forced out at second base on a dropped pop up by the Bryan shortstop. Nick Sykes stole second base before a two out single from Adrian Reed plated the go ahead run, giving the Crusaders a 2-1 lead. With Noah Renaud standing on third base, Reed drew a throw on an attempted steal that plated Renaud and increased the MU lead to 3-1.

  • Bryan took the lead  5-3 with a four run inning that saw one hit and another Crusaders error.

• Fifth Inning

  • Jerad Dokey walked to begin the inning for MU before back-to-back singles by G. Ferguson and Lucska scored Dokey and set the table for a 3-run home run by Sykes to left center field, reclaiming the lead by a score of 7-5.

• Ninth Inning

  • A 3-run inning for the Lions in the sixth tied the score at eight heading into the ninth inning. Sykes began the inning by wearing a pitch before Pejuan bunted him over to second base. With Aniol in to pinch run for Sykes, back to back errors by the Bryan infield scored one run and set the stage for a G. Ferguson single that score two more runs.

  • Despite scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning, the Lions were not able to complete the comeback and fell 11-9 to the Crusaders.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Game One

  • G. Ferguson paced the offense with his 2-run blast in the second inning, recording two RBI and one run scored.

  • Lucska, Thomas, and Sykes also collected hits in the contest, while Stephen Parker and Dokey both drew two walks.

  • Donovan Thacker threw 5.1 innings in his start, allowing two earned runs on five hits and five walks.

  • Beuckeleare tossed 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out one batter before Richard took the ball in the tenth inning, only able to record one out.

• Game Two

  • Unlike game one, two Crusaders had a multi-hit game and seven total players recorded a hit. G. Ferguson once again led the offensive charge with three hits, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk, while Sykes followed suit with a home run and two RBI of his own.

  • Reed was the other to record three hits, knocking in one RBI and crossing the plate twice.

  • Thomas, Lucska, Sykes, Matt Staelgraeve, and Renaud were the other Crusaders who recorded a hit, combining for four RBI and four runs scored.

  • Victor Mencotti started on the mound, lasting 3.2 innings and allowing five runs on three hits and five walks.

  • Ryan Mount, Joe Wozniak, and Greg Goodbred combined for the relief out of the bullpen with Goodbred securing the win for the Blue and Gold.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will return to Sentor Field tomorrow, February 9 to finish their four game series with Bryan College. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.

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

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