COLUMBIA, Ky. - As has been the case throughout the 2021 postseason run for the Madonna University softball team, the Crusaders scored late on Tuesday afternoon to upset top-seeded and fifth-ranked Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.), 3-1, to book their ticket to the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round championship game at Marilyn D. Sparks Park.

On the verge of the program's first-ever trip to the NAIA Softball World Series, the Blue and Gold have already done something no other team has done, play in an opening round championship game as the undefeated team. In 2015 the Blue and Gold won the first championship game, but lost in heartbreaking fashion in the if necessary game. In 2017, the last time MU was at Lindsey Wilson, Madonna fell to Corban in the tournament title game. 

It wasn't the start the Crusaders hoped for as the Blue Raiders (39-10) scored in the top of the first on a pair of singles, but the Blue and Gold got the run back in the second as Brooklyn Dolloff doubled off the glove of the right fielder into the corner and scored on a two-out single to center by Brooke Garbarino. 

Madonna had chances in the fourth and fifth, but couldn't get a run in. The momentum seemed to swing to MU in the sixth as Maeson Schlaud struck out Lyric Houston with a runner on third to keep the game tied. Then in the bottom of the frame, Kattie Popko drove a 1-2 pitch over the centerfield wall for the 2-1 lead. Not to be outdone, Dolloff completed a 3-for-3 day with a solo shot of her own to center, also a 1-2 pitch, for the final margin. 



A walk and a base hit in the seventh made things interesting, but Schlaud tallied a pair of strikeouts and forced a groundout to end the game and send MU to the title game. 

Dolloff collected half of the Crusaders' hits in the contest and scored twice while Popko, Garbarino, and Amy Clegg had the other three hits. Madisen Henry went five innings and allowed one run on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts and Schlaud moved to 11-2 as she allowed one hit, walked two and struck out three in two innings of relief. Through two games, the Crusaders' staff has allowed seven hits and struck out 13 with two runs allowed. 



The Crusaders' opponent on Wednesday will be decided on Tuesday evening as Lindsey Wilson will face the winner of Brenau University (Ga.) and Saint Xavier University (Ill.) at 7 p.m. for the right to face Madonna on Wednesday. If Madonna loses game one on Wednesday, the if necessary game will take place 30 minutes after game one. 

Live links for the games are available at mucrusaders.com/coverage. 

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