THE BASICS
Score: Game 1: Madonna University 11, Indiana Tech University 17
Game 2: Madonna 6, Indiana Tech 20, 7 Innings
Records: Madonna (16-13, 12-8), Indiana Tech (30-22, 15-5)
Location: Ilitch Ballpark - Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich.- The Madonna University Crusaders battled against the Warriors from Indiana Tech University on Sunday afternoon to close up their 2021 regular season. The doubleheader were the final games of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference season for the Crusaders. 

GAME 1
TURNING POINT

• The Warriors grabbed the lead right away in the first inning scoring three runs on their way to the win.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Scoring three runs in the first inning, the Warriors were able to score on two singles, with one through each side of the infield. 
• Madonna was able to grab a run back in the bottom half of the inning as Jace Matkin was able to bring in Adrian Reed on a single to left field. 
• Indiana Tech brought the power to the plate in the second as they were able to get a run from a double and then were able to knock back-to-back home runs that would bring in the next four runs. 
• Getting two back in the bottom half of the inning, the Crusaders scored as Kyle Aniol cleared the bases with a double all the way to the left center field fence. 
• With the third inning also came the Warriors fourth straight inning of scoring by three scoring off of an error and then a double to right center field. 
• The Crusaders were able to follow suit and scored off Gordon Ferguson hitting a fielder's choice that brought home Marcus Cipriano. 
• Tech would add two more in the fourth from a home run that was just inside the left field foul pole and a double play that was able to bring in a run. The fifth saw yet the Warriors being able to bring in two with a swing of the bat on a ball that went to left center field. 
• Ferguson and Alex Garbacik hit consecutive singles in the bottom half of the fifth scoring three and wound up grabbing another run when Cipriano got hit by a pitch with the loaded bases. 
• The final Tech runs came in the sixth as they were able to tally another two spot in the inning. The runs came off of a sacrifice fly out to center field and a pass ball from the pitcher. 
• Down nine in the bottom of the eighth saw the Crusaders mount a small comeback with the majority of their bench in the game at that point. With the bases loaded a pass ball enabled a run to come in for Madonna and then Blake Heavener tallied his first two RBIs of the season with a double to the gap in left center to bring the final score of 17-11.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• Crusaders had their 15 hits spread out across 10 guys as they were headlined with Matkin at three hits. 
• In addition to the 15 hits the Crusaders would also add on five walks throughout the nine innings today. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• Ferguson hit 2-3 in the game, while driving in two runs and also crossing the plate twice. 
• Aniol went .500 on the game hitting a double and driving in two runs.
• Heavener got a bases clearing two-run double in the eighth during his sole at-bat of the game. 

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Zaborowsk (3-1)
• Loss: Dusang (1-2)

GAME 2
TURNING POINT

• A grand slam in the top of the sixth inning from the Warriors gave them the 8-5 lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Indiana Tech would once again take the lead in the first on an RBI single to right field for the 1-0 lead. 
• It wouldn't take long though as he got a hold of the second pitch and Aniol tied the game up hitting a long home run to left field. The Crusaders would not be done in the inning as Reed and Beadle got on base and Matkin would deliver the second deep home run to left field of the inning for the 4-1 lead after the first. 
• In the top of the second the Warriors were able to within two as they would follow suit and hit a home run to left field. In the bottom half of the inning, Madonna re-extended their lead as Matkin drove in his fourth run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right field. 
• The third inning would stay quiet and Indiana Tech drew closer with two runs in the top of the fourth, scoring off of an error and a double play. 
• The Warriors would strike once again in the top of the sixth as they would load the bases up and clear them with a swing of the bat for a grand slam to give them the 8-5 lead. 
• In the bottom half of the inning Celmer came up to the plate and was able to knock a home run off of the scoreboard in left center to mark the third straight game he hit a home run. 
• It was all Indiana Tech from there on though as they scored 12 in the top of the seventh enroute to the 14-run win. They scored 10 runs with two outs including seven hits in the inning. 

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• The Crusaders once again were able to hit for power today as only one of their six runs were not off of home runs as they hit three today. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• Matkin was able to go 1-2 from the plate throughout the game with his three-run homer in the first and a sacrifice fly in the second and tacked on four RBIs. 
• Aniol went 2-4 with his leadoff home run in the first and a single. He tallied one RBI and one run scored. 

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Dunavan (5-5)
• Loss: Caballero (0-1)

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders await results from a couple of other games around the WHAC over the next two days as they will see where they will be playing for the conference tournament which begins May 6. 

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