LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University softball team finished off a four-game sweep of Judson University (Ill.) with a pair of victories at University Field on Sunday afternoon. The Blue and Gold won game one 8-2 and finished the weekend with an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings.

The Crusaders improved to 9-2 on the season while the Eagles fall to 4-12.

GAME 1: #RV Madonna 8, Judson 2
It wasn't the greatest start to the contest as an MU miscue allowed the game's first run as Judson took an early 1-0 lead in the second. It was a short-lived lead as the Blue and Gold hung five runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the frame. Brooklyn Prescott got things started with a double and scored on a Bailey Martin-Brown double. Veronica Pezzoni followed with a triple and two batters later Kattie Popko doubled home a pair for a 4-1 lead. Popko scored on a wild pitch for the four-run lead.

It took three more innings before either offense scored again. In the fifth, Popko singled to lead off the frame, Brooke Garbarino walked, and Emily Pawelski stepped to the plate and drove a high, fly ball just over the left-field fence for a three-run home run and a seven-run lead. 

The Eagles added a run on two hits on the seventh for the final margin.

Ciera Jones earned her third win of the season as she scattered four hits over five innings and allowed one unearned run with a walk and two strikeouts while Popko led the 8-hit attack with a 2-for-3 game with two runs scored and two RBI. Six other players recorded a hit and a run. 

GAME 2: #RV Madonna 8, Judson 0 (5 Innings)
The Crusaders' offense didn't miss a beat in the final game of the weekend as they sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored seven runs on eight hits in the first inning. Pezzoni led off with a triple, Sarah Holton singled her home and scored on a Popko double. Pawelski followed with an RBI double of her own and she scored two batters later on a Brooklyn Dolloff single. Jenna Gilbert finished the inning with a two-run double as the Crusaders plated seven runs without an out in the inning. 

Jenna Gould and the defense held the Eagles' offense down throughout the game and the Blue and Gold finished the weekend in the sixth as Emily Biggott tripled with one out and scored on a two-out base hit by Pezzoni. 

Gould earned her first collegiate win as she tossed four shutout innings with six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. The offense belted out 15 hits, led by Popko who finished 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Pawelski finished 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI and Pezzoni also had a pair of hits, a run, and an RBI. Eight other Crusaders recorded a hit in the win. 

UP NEXT
The Crusaders host NCAA Division II Northwood University (Mich.) in a single game on Thursday, March 18 at 3 p.m. at University Field. Tickets are available at www.mucrusaders.com/tickets. Fans can read the most updated fan policy here.

Those that can't attend can watch the game at www.mucrusaders.com/watch. 

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