LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University softball team didn't make it easy on Saturday afternoon but received strong pitching and clutch hits to come from behind to sweep Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 3-2 and 4-2. 

It took extra innings in game one and a late rally in game two, but the Crusaders improve to 11-3 on the season while the Crimson Wave fall to 2-18 on the year. Madonna also improved to 8-2 against the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), this season. 

GAME 1: #RV Madonna 3, CCSJ 2 (8)
The Crimson Wave got off to a fast start as they scored on a two-out, RBI single in the first and took advantage of an MU miscue in the second. In the bottom of the first, Kattie Popko tied the game with an RBI single to score Veronica Pezzoni who reached on a CCSJ error. 

Both pitchers settled in and shut the offenses down until the sixth as Popko led off with a single and scored on a two-out double by Emily Pawelski. After MU stranded a pair of runners in the seventh, the teams went to extra innings where MU ace Madisen Henry sat down the Crimson Wave in order to set the stage for a walk-off win.

It didn't take long as a fielder's choice off the bat of Brooke Garbarino put runners at the corners and Brooklyn Dolloff singled up the middle for the walk-off, 3-2 win. 
 

Walk-off in extra innings...#CrusaderNation #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/YlA9oLe56o

— Madonna Softball (@MUCrusadersSB) March 21, 2021

Henry got the complete-game win to move to 2-0 as she allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Popko led the eight-hit attack for MU with a 3-for-4 day with two runs scored and an RBI while five other Crusaders tallied a hit. 

GAME 2: #RV Madonna 4, CCSJ 2
The visitors scored first again in the first of game two as a passed ball with two outs brought in a run. It was a short-lived lead, however, as Pezzoni reached on an infield single, stole two bases, and scored on a Sarah Holton sacrifice fly. 

Neither offense mounted a threat until the fourth as a pair of hits and a groundout put CCSJ back in front. This time MU took the lead for good in the sixth as Pezzoni and Holton led off the sixth with back-to-back singles and Popko drove them both in with a hissing double down the left-field line. It was Dolloff who provided an insurance run as she doubled home Garbarino for the 4-2 win. 

Ciera Jones moved to 4-0 as she allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits over seven innings with seven strikeouts. The offense tallied six hits led by Popko and Pezzoni who each finished 2-for-3 with the former driving in two while the latter scored twice. 

UP NEXT
The Crusaders are back in action on Thursday, March 25 at 3 p.m. as they host No. 17 Olivet Nazarene University in a doubleheader. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. 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 games at www.mucrusaders.com/watch. 

CONNECT WITH THE CRUSADERS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
SUBSCRIBE/DOWNLOAD TEAM SCHEDULES: Download Center
DOWNLOAD THE NEW MOBILE APP: Google Play | iOS