COLUMBUS, Ga. - The sixth-seeded Madonna University softball team scored first and came from behind, but eventually suffered their first loss  at the NAIA Softball World Series at R.G. Jones Field in the South Commons Softball Complex on Saturday night, a 5-4 defeat in nine innings against second-seeded Oregon Institute of Technology.  

The game featured a roller coaster of emotion with big plays and lead changes that began in the third inning as the Crusaders went up 3-0 with four hits in the frame. Leadoff hitter Veronica Pezzoni sparked the rally with an infield single and scored two batters later on Kattie Popko's double to right center. Brooklyn Dolloff drove her in with a two-out single to center and Alyssa Fessenden continued her strong series at the plate with a single up the middle for the 3-0 lead. 

It was a short-lived lead as the Owls scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits and a pair of MU miscues. A pair of hits and a sacrifice fly gave the home team the lead in the fifth. 

Madonna threatened in the sixth as Makayla Bassage doubled with two outs, Amy Clegg reached on an error and Pezzoni walked to load the bases, but the Crusaders couldn't get the big hit they needed. It came an inning later though as Fessenden doubled to deep center with two outs to score Jamie Gietl who ran for Emily Pawelski who was hit by a pitch. 

Clegg made a stellar play on defense to end the seventh and Maeson Schlaud left an Owl on the bases with her fourth strikeout in the eighth. In the Crusaders' ninth, Pawelski and Dolloff singled with two outs, but were stranded an on the second pitch of the bottom of the frame, OIT hit a walk-off home run over the right field fence for the final margin. 

Madonna outhit Oregon Tech 11-7, led by Pezzoni, Dolloff, and Fessenden who each collected two hits while Pezzoni also scored once, Fessenden drove in a pair, and Dolloff scored and drove in a run. Five other Crusaders recorded a hit in the game while Schlaud took the tough loss as she allowed five runs, two earned, on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts over eight-plus innings of work. 

The Crusaders will face ninth-seed Bethany College (Kan.) in a win-or-go-home game on Monday, May 31 at 4 p.m.. Live coverage of the game will be available at www.mucrusaders.com/coverage. Live stats are free while live video is $9.95 per game or $29.95 for a championship pass. 

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