Donovan Thacker pitches against Spring Arbor in 2019
Photo taken in 2019
3
Winner Madonna MU2021M 2-2
0
Spalding SUBSB 0-1
Winner
Madonna MU2021M
2-2
3
Final
0
Spalding SUBSB
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Madonna MU2021M 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 6 0
Spalding SUBSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2

W: Thacker, Donovan (2-0) L: Parisi, Jack (0-1) S: Beuckelaere, John (1)

5
Winner Madonna MU2021M 3-2
3
Spalding SUBSB 0-2
Winner
Madonna MU2021M
3-2
5
Final
3
Spalding SUBSB
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Madonna MU2021M 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 5 7 1
Spalding SUBSB 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 7 2

W: Blain, Nate (2-0) L: Mathews, Garrett (0-1) S: Beuckelaere, John (3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Zachary Shore

Crusaders arms ground Golden Eagles

THE BASICS
Score: Game 1: Madonna University 3, Spalding University (Ky.) 0
            Game 2: Madonna 5, Spalding 3
Records: Madonna (3-2), Spalding (0-2)
Location: Derby City Field - Louisville, Ky.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The Madonna University baseball team made a last minute schedule change and didn't miss a beat. The Crusader (3-2) got excellent pitching, good defense and timely hits to defeat NCAA Division III Spalding University (Ky.) who is receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll. 

Playing at Derby City Field, the Crusaders took game one 3-0 and finished the day with a 5-3 victory. 

GAME 1
TURNING POINT
  • Fielding error by the Golden Eagles (0-2) shortstop in the fifth to allow MU to get on the board
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • It was a slow start to the series opener as neither team got a runner to third until the top of the fourth. Madonna followed in the fifth with the first runs of the contest as Zachary Beadle walked, Alex Nicholson singled and came around to score on an error. A two-out single by Adrian Reed pushed the lead to two. 
  • The Crusader pitching, led by starter Donovan Thacker who tossed a dominant seven innings, didn't allow a base runner to reach third in the 3-0 win. The final run for the Blue and Gold came on a Reed walk which plated Jace Matkin for the final tally in the ninth. 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
  • 6: The number of MU hits and walks in the contest.
  • 7: The number of strikeouts for Thacker, who improved to 2-0.
  • 1: Ross Rickel and John Beuckelaere each allowed one hit and struck out one in relief of Thacker. Beuckelaere notched his second save of the year.
TOP PERFORMERS
  • Thacker who scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings.
  • Nicholson and Matkin who each finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
  • Alex Garbacik who drew a pair of walks and stole a base.
GAME 2
TURNING POINT
  • Noah Moore's two-run double in the fifth that proved to be the game-winner.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Crusaders struck early and often in the nightcap as they plated runs each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Joey Pejuan drove in the first run in the third on a groundout as he plated Nicholson who singled to lead off the frame.
  • In the fourth, Moore reached on an error and scored on a Nicholson two-run double that also scored Matkin. Moore was in on the scoring again in the fifth as he double home Gordon Ferguson and Adrian Reed for the 5-0 advantage. 
  • An error brought in a run for the home team in the fifth and a pair of hits in the seventh made it a three-run game. Beuckelaere earned his third save of the season in the ninth, but it wasn't without some drama as he walked in a run, but struckout two in the 5-3 victory.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
  • 24: The teams combined to strikeout 24 times with the Crusaders pitchers tallying 10.
  • 7: Both teams posted seven hits in the contest.
  • 5: The number of Crusaders who scored a run in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS
  • Nicholson who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
  • Reed also had two hits in four at bats and scored a run.
  • Nate Blain earned the win, his second of the year, with one unearned run on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts. 
KARN'S KORNER
  • "Our guys threw the ball really well today and we played great defense. Spalding received votes in the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and they have some really good pitching. We were able to capitalize on runners in scoring position with key hits from Alex Nicholson, Jace Matkin, and Noah Moore. When we play like we did today we will be tough to beat." - Head Coach Justin Karn.
UP NEXT
  • The Crusaders look for a sweep of the Golden Eagles as they wrap up the series on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. at Trinity Stadium in Louisville. 
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