SYLVANIA, Ohio - The Madonna University softball team, the second seed in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament, book a ticket to the NAIA Opening Round for the fourth straight season with a 9-1 run-rule victory over fourth-seed Concordia University in the consolation championship game on Friday afternoon at Pacesetter Park.

Madonna improved to 29-7 on the season with the win while the Cardinals finished the year 29-23. 

After tossing 9.2 innings on day one of the tournament with a pair of wins, Crusaders' freshman Maeson Schlaud earned her ninth victory of the season as she allowed one run on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. The lone run came in the third as a leadoff walk came around to score on a single with one out. It was a close play at the plate as the Cardinals base runner slid in just ahead of the throw from Veronica Pezzoni. 

The Crusaders offense, which came to life with nine hits in the contest, quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the frame as Amy Clegg singled with one out, Pezzoni walked, and Sarah Holton was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Kattie Popko who crushed a pitch down the left field line that was barely foul. Two pitches later she singled back up the middle for the 2-1 lead. Emily Pawelski followed with a safety squeeze bunt to go up two.

The Blue and Gold sent seven batters to the plate in the sixth and scored six runs on six hits to end the game by run rule victory. Holton got the inning going with a one out double, Popko singled, and Pawelski followed with a two-run double to left center to push the lead to four. Brooklyn Dolloff tripled to right-center and scored two batters later on Alyssa Fessenden's single to left. Makayla Bassage then ended the game with a two-run single to left for the 9-1 win. 

Popko, who went 3-for-3 in Thursday's loss, finished 2-for-2 with a walk, run scored and two RBI. Fessenden went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI while five other Crusaders tallied a hit. Pawelski drove in three runs and eight Crusaders scored a run led by Holton's two. 

With the win the Crusaders advanced to the WHAC Championship against top-seeded Aquinas College (Mich.) and lead the Saints 7-1 in the top of the sixth with two on and no one out. The game was suspended due to weather and will be resumed on Monday, May 10 at Lake Trust Stadium on the campus of Cleary University with first pitch at 4 p.m. The if necessary game, which would be played if Madonna wins, would take place 30 minutes after game one. 

Live coverage of the game(s) for those that can not attend will be available on the Madonna Athletics Network at mucrusaders.com/watch. 

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