THE BASICS
Score: Game 1: Madonna University 9, Siena Heights University (Mich.) 0
Game 2: Madonna 5, Siena Heights 1
Records: Madonna 24-4 (13-3), Siena Heights 20-13 (9-7)
Location: University Field, Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Madonna University softball team took on Siena Heights University (Mich.) in a doubleheader Saturday, and won both games. The Crusaders defeated the Saints 9-1 in game one, and 5-1 in game two. This moves the Crusaders' record to 24-4 overall, and 13-3 in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play, where they now sit in first place.

GAME 1 - HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusader bats started the game off hot, as Madonna opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with Kattie Popko singling up the middle to score Veronica Pezzoni. The Crusaders pushed the lead to 2-0 with a Bailey Martin-Brown single to score Chylece Cluck.

The Madonna offense would pick things back up in the bottom of the third, as Popko doubled to score Cluck. Popko would score as Alissa Gauthier singled. Later in the inning, Jenna Gilbert singled to center to score both Martin-Brown and Gauthier. As the Crusaders batted around, Pezzoni singled to score Gilbert, and the inning ended with a 7-0 Madonna lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Martin-Brown and Gauthier scored again when Emily Pawelski reached on an error. This made the game 9-0, and the Crusaders shut the Saints down in the top of the fifth to clinch the game with the mercy rule. 

Siena Heights' bats were held in check by Maeson Schlaud, who picked up her 13th win of the season with her complete game shutout. In her five innings, she only allowed two hits, and struck out seven while walking no batters.

GAME 2 - HOW IT HAPPENED

Game two started as a pitchers' duel, as the first run came in the top of the fourth from Siena Heights. The Crusaders got their say in the bottom half, as they got on the board with a Sarah Holton two-run single, scoring Pawelski and Amy Clegg. Later in the inning, Cluck doubled to left to score three, Pezzoni, Holton, and pinch running Jenna Gould. The inning ended at 5-1, with the Crusaders leading.

An encore was provided by Schlaud in the circle, as she threw another complete game for the Crusaders. She earned her 14th win of the season, as she allowed one run on three hits. She also struck out 11 and only walked one batter.


BY THE NUMBERS:

• Schlaud: 12 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 18 K, 1 BB
• Popko: 3-6, 2B, 2 RBI
• Cluck: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB
• Pezzoni: 2-4, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 SB

UP NEXT:
The Crusaders will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, as they play a doubleheader against Lourdes University. The ceremony will take place in between the games, which start at 1 PM at University field. 



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