THE BASICS
Score: Game 1: Madonna University 6, Huntington University (Ind.) 0
Game 2: Madonna 6, Huntington 0
Records: Madonna (11-1), Huntington (3-14)
Location: University Field, Madonna Athletics Complex, Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich.-- The Madonna University softball team looked strong against Huntington University (Ind.) on Friday afternoon sweeping a pair of games each with the score 6-0. This improves the Crusaders' record to 11-1 on the season.

GAME 1 - HOW IT HAPPENED
The Crusaders struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After Alissa Gauthier singled and stole second, Emily Theisen walked. Bailey Martin-Brown then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both to move them both into scoring position. Later in the inning, Veronica Pezzoni reached first on an error, which would score Theisen and Emily Pawelski. This put the Crusaders up 2-0, a lead they would not surrender.

Madonna added the rest of their runs in the bottom of the fourth, starting with Jamie Gietl scoring when Amy Clegg reached on an error. A Pezzoni single would score Ryley Osentoski to make it 4-0. Clegg scored on a Chylece Cluck sacrifice bunt, and Pezzoni scored on a Kattie Popko sacrifice fly. The inning ended with the Crusaders ahead 6-0.

The Crusaders were commanded on the mound by Maeson Schlaud, who pitched a complete game shutout. She only allowed three hits and recorded eight strikeouts, while not allowing any walks.


GAME 2 - HOW IT HAPPENED
The Crusaders opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. After a Cluck walk, Popko singled. Gauthier would single later in the inning to score Cluck to make it a 1-0 ballgame, also a lead Madonna would not surrender.

After being a tight game for most of the chilly evening, the Crusaders broke it open in the bottom of the fifth, rallying to score four runs. Popko would score the first run of the frame on a Gauthier single, who then scored when Sarah Holton reached on an error. Brooke Garbarino tripled to right field, and scored on a Kelsi Littleton sacrifice fly, making the game 6-0.

Madonna was again strong on the mound, with Jane Anderson throwing a complete game shutout. She struck out six batters, only giving up three hits and walking one batter. This gave her her first career win in her first career start.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Crusader pitching allowed zero runs in the doubleheader
• Schlaud is now 6-0 on the season
• Gauthier went 5-7 hitting on the day, with 2 RBI
• 11-1 is the best start in program history

• The Crusaders will travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on Indiana Tech in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon, starting at 2:30 PM. This opens the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) schedule, and these games have been rescheduled from Saturday, March 26.