THE BASICS
Scores: MU 1, BU 0; MU 2, CC 3
Records: Madonna University (36-15), Brenau University (Ga.) (34-11), Columbia College (Mo.) (37-11)
Location: Antimi Sports Complex - Columbia, Mo.
 

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The fourth-seeded Madonna University softball team experienced a plethora of mixed emotions on the second day of the NAIA Opening Round Columbia Bracket as the Crusaders defeated Brenau University (Ga.) 1-0 in the first game and nearly came back to down the second-seed and host, Columbia College in a 3-2 loss on Tuesday afternoon.

The day began with a triumphant, hard-fought team win as the Crusaders and Golden Tigers each tallied two hits in the contest, but it was the Crusaders who were able to play small-ball and capitalize on a clutch leadoff double. That came via the bat of Sarah Holton in the bottom of the sixth as she smacked a ball high off the centerfield fence. A Kattie Popko fly out and a Halee Warren sacrifice fly plated the only run.

The Blue and Gold stranded a pair of runs in the second and fifth and the Golden Tigers ran themselves out of a promising inning in the third. Madisen Henry was her usual stellar self as the junior right-hander allowed two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in a complete game win.


With momentum on their side and riding a late-inning victory, it was the Crusaders who struck first against the host Cougars. Holton got things going with a one-out, two-base hit and moved to third on a Popko groundout. Then game one's hero, Warren, delivered again with a sharp single up the middle for the early lead. The Blue and Gold loaded the bases with two outs in the same frame, but could not get another run home.

Neither team threatened again until the sixth when the Cougars used a pair of singles, a triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the frame Madonna got a run back and had a chance for more, but a stellar defensive play by the Cougars kept it a one run game.

Warren got things going with a one-out single, Comerzan walked and Brooklyn Dolloff singled to cut the deficit to one. After Dolloff stole second, pinch hitter Selena Deault walked to load the bases and Yogi Hang pinch hit and drove a line drive to left field where the Cougars' outfielder made a running catch and fired home for a double play to end the threat.

After Alyssa Fessenden tossed a scoreless seventh, the Blue and Gold started a rally as Jordan Johnson was hit by a pitch and Popko drew a two-out walk to set the stage for Warren who hours earlier delivered a walk-off RBI sacrifice fly to defeat Brenau in the first win-or-go-home game. She lifted a 1-1 pitch down the right field line and a pair of Cougars collided as the ball fell to the ground and scooted down the line, allowing what appeared to be a pair of runs to score for a walk-off winner. However, the umpires ruled the ball to be foul and Madonna was unable to push the runs across.

Ciera Jones took the loss in game two as she allowed three runs on five hits with one strikeout over six innings while Fessenden allowed one hit and struck out one in the seventh. Warren's 2-for-4 game led the Crusaders' 4-hit attack and the Blue and Gold also drew five walks led by Comerzan's two. Holton and Kassidy Lipinski, who ran for Warren, scored the two runs while Warren and Dolloff each had an RBI.

What appeared to be a celebratory day, ended in tears as the Crusaders bid adieu to four seniors - Kerstyn Comerzan, Becky Giacobbi, Jordan Johnson and Halee Warren.

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