THE BASICS
Score: Game 1: Madonna University 14, Cleary University (Mich.) 0
Game 2: Madonna 8, Cleary 0
Records: Madonna 28-4 (17-3), Cleary 14-31 (3-14)
Location: University Field, Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Madonna University softball team swept a doubleheader in dominating fashion Tuesday, as they defeated Cleary University. The Crusaders won both games, defending their status at the top of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

GAME 1 - HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusaders broke the game open early, as Veronica Pezzoni led their first inning off with a triple to center field. She would score on a single from Chylece Cluck, who would then score on a double by Kattie Popko. Later in the inning, Popko scored on a throw to second on an Amy Clegg stolen base. Emily Pawelski would drive in two runs on a double off the fence in right center, and would score on a Sarah Holton single. By the time the inning was over, the Crusaders were ahead, 6-0.

It was more of the same in the second inning, as the Crusaders batted around for the second time. Cluck scored on an Alissa Gauthier single, and Popko would once more score as a result of a throw to second on a stolen base attempt. Clegg would drive in Gauthier on a single, and Holton would drive in two on a single to make the game 11-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kelsi Littleton doubled to right center to score Emily Biggott, and Gauthier would follow it up with an RBI double of her own. Clegg would put the finishing touch on the Crusaders' effort with a single through the right side to score Gauthier, and put the Crusaders ahead 14-0.

The Crusaders were led in the circle by a pair of arms. Maeson Schlaud got the start, going three innings, allowing just one baserunner on a hit and striking out four. She was relieved in the fourth by Jane Anderson, who would earn the win, also allowing one hit and striking out four.

GAME 2 - HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusaders opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, as Popko tripled to center field to score Pezzoni. Popko scored on a successful sacrifice bunt from Bailey Martin-Brown. Clegg then singled to score Gauthier, and the Crusaders led 3-0 after the first.

In the third, the Crusaders scored three more, starting with Popko scoring when Martin-Brown reached on an error. Gauthier would score on another successful sacrifice bunt, this time from Clegg. Martin-Brown would score on a Pawelski RBI single.

In the fifth inning, Pezzoni doubled down the left field line to score Clegg, and Cluck doubled to right center to score Holton. Holton's run marked the eighth for the Crusaders, which ended the game on the mercy rule.

Schlaud started her eighth consecutive game for the Crusaders, this time recording a complete game. The first hitter she faced hit an infield single, after that, another hitter did not reach base, solidifying Schlaud's third straight one-hitter. She struck out nine batters while walking zero.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Schlaud: 8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 13 K
• Gauthier: 4-6, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB
• Clegg: 4-6, 4 RBI, 3 R
• Pezzoni: 5-7, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3 R

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will close out their regular season on Friday, as they head west to take on Aquinas College (Mich.). The games will be played at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Caledonia, as the Crusaders will look to clinch the WHAC regular-season title.



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