THE BASICS
Score: Saturday, Game 1: Madonna University 11, Lourdes University (Ohio) 7
Saturday, Game 2: Madonna 5, Lourdes 8
Sunday, Game 1: Madonna 15, Siena Heights University (Mich.) 6
Sunday, Game 2: Madonna 1, Siena Heights 5
Records: Madonna 12-6 (4-4), Lourdes 20-8 (5-3) Siena Heights 10-20 (2-6)
Location: Ilitch Ballpark, Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Madonna University baseball team played two doubleheaders over the weekend, opening their home portion of the 2022 schedule. The Crusaders split each doubleheader, against Lourdes University (Ohio) and Siena Heights University (Mich.)

SATURDAY, GAME 1
The Crusaders fell behind early in game one, down 5-0 after the top of the second inning. After an Alex Garbacik home run (his fourth of the season) cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom half, the Madonna bats came alive in the sixth inning. Madonna sent fourteen batters to the plate during the frame, scoring nine runs to take an 11-5 lead. 

Highlights of the inning included a Kyle Revere single that scored two runs, a Jace Matkin double scored two runs, and a two-run triple from Steffen Dyl. Lourdes would try to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, but the Crusaders bullpen successfully shut the door to win the game 11-7.


SATURDAY, GAME 2
The Crusaders struck quickly in game two, with Garbacik scoring after a Zachary Beadle foul out in the first inning. Two more runs would come in the fourth, one each on a double from Nick Krol and a single from Garbacik. One additional run each came in the fifth and seven innings, including a home run from Matkin, his eighth of the season.

Headed into the ninth with a 5-4 Madonna lead, the Gray Wolves managed to rally, scoring four runs to take the lead. The Crusaders were unable to come back in their last at-bats, losing the game 8-5.


SUNDAY, GAME 1
After falling behind 1-0 early, the Crusaders bats were on fire, starting with the leadoff hitter. Garbacik continued his strong weekend by doubling to left, later scoring on a Beadle sacrifice fly. Later, in the third, Nick Krol tripled to score three runs, giving the Crusaders a 6-1 lead.
The strong offense would keep up in the fourth, scoring four more runs, helped by RBI doubles from Matkin and Dyl. Madonna would add five more runs in the fifth to make the score 15-1, highlighted by a Matt Staelgraeve two-run double. The Saints attempted to come back, cutting the lead to nine, but the Crusaders were able to shut them down, winning the game 15-6.

SUNDAY, GAME 2
The nightcap on Sunday was low-scoring compared to game one. The highlight for the Crusaders came in the bottom of the fifth, as Dylan Pawenski hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot. That was it for the Madonna offense, only scoring one run, losing the game 5-1.

 
BY THE NUMBERS:
 

• Alex Garbacik scored six runs in the four games
• Ryan Dusang earned the win in the first game Sunday, improving his record to 5-2
• Jace Matkin's RBI in game one on Sunday was his team-high 30th on the season

UP NEXT:
The Crusaders are back in action on Friday, April 4, hosting Cornerstone University (Mich.) in a doubleheader. The games will start at 1 PM and 3 PM at Ilitch Ballpark.


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