BRIGHTON, MI. - The Madonna University softball team traveled down the road to Brighton to play in the Cleary Early Bird Classic at the Legacy Center. The Crusaders had another solid weekend as they swept both of their games on Friday.

Madonna opened the day with a 3-2 win over the Comets from Olivet, then followed up with a huge 5-1 win over the Harriers of Miami University - Hamilton. 

Game one started solidly for the Crusaders as Madisen Henry struck out seven of the ten batters she faced. Emma Sikina got the third inning going as she singled to start the inning. Victoria Pezzoni followed up with a walk and then Sarah Holton started her big day as she singled home the first run of the day. The top of the fourth saw Madonna lose the lead as the Comets Madison Carroll hit a two-run home run over the right-center wall. The lead though didn't last for long as the Crusaders were able to get two runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI Double from Brooklyn Dolloff that scored Selena Deault and Katie Popko. Cierra Jones came into pitch in the sixth inning and closed out the last two innings and got the save.

The second game as both teams had a quick first inning. Amy Clegg led off with a home run over the left-center wall. The Harriers came back with a double down the right-field line that tied the game and was the only run in the afternoon for Miami. In the fifth inning Brooke Garbarino singled to start, Sikina bunted for a hit to have runners on first and second Holton was able to drive the game-winning run across the plate with a single to take the lead 2-1. The seventh inning was big for the Crusaders as they got a couple of insurance runs from Pezzoni and Holton to take firm control of the game 4-1. Jones came in in the sixth and yet again was able to shut down the opposing offense and earn her second save of the day.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Holton was .500 on the day as she collected four hits, 3 RBI's and the winning run in the Miami-Hamilton game. Clegg went 1-3 with a home run in that game also. Dolloff was 2-2 with a double and two RBI's in the Olivet game.
• In the circle, Henry struck out seven of the ten batters she faced. Hulett was solid again as she pitched five innings, allowed one hit, gave up one run, and struck out two. Jones earned two saves on the day pitching 3.1 innings, did not allow a hit, and struck out three.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will have another break in the schedule when they travel over spring break to the Tucson Invitational Games from March 1-6. The first day games will be against Presentation College (1 PM) and Mount Marty College (3:30 PM) on March 1.
• Live coverage if available will be posted to mucrusaders.com

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