Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LIVONIA, Mich. - Coming off their huge sweep of Aquinas at home, the Madonna Crusaders (11-7, 5-0) hosted Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent Rochester University Warriors (3-18, 1-7) in a double-header. After blowing out the Warriors 19-5 in the first game of their series, the Crusaders would go on to get the sweep with a 17-6 win. The Crusaders remain undefeated in WHAC play, moving to 7-0.

Game 1:

An error by Rochester led to Anthony Sharkas scoring for Madonna in the bottom of the first. Lansing Community College transfer Bobby Cavin batted in senior Jace Matkin to end the first. Madonna continued to climb up the scoreboard in the second as senior Alex Garbacik launched a two-run homer deep over the left field fence. Garbacik's efforts gave Madonna a 4-0 lead after two.

Rochester would nearly catch up after two scoreless innings for the Crusaders, with a score of 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Crusaders were able to get some breathing room this inning, starting with an RBI single from senior Matt Staelgraeve that brought Matkin home for the second time already this afternoon. Staelgraeve would make it home himself off of a single from Kyle Revere to make it a 7-3 game after five.

A series of errors and mishaps from the Warriors led to Madonna running up the score in the bottom of the sixth. After scoring three runs: one from a balk, one from an error, and one from a wild pitch, the Crusaders were able to load up the bases thanks to these sloppy mistakes, and Garbacik being hit with a pitch. With the bases loaded and already two outs, Sharkas stepped up and rattled off a three-run triple as Madonna started to run up the score.

Despite having two outs already, Rochester couldn't seem to escape the inning and cut their losses in any way. Pinch-hitting for Staelgraeve, Klayton Cornell fired a two-run double that extended the Crusader lead to 14. Aiden Shipmen would get his chance to pinch hit as well, hitting a two-run single before the Warriors were finally able to end the inning. What was just a one-run game less than two innings before was now a 19-3 blowout with one inning remaining. Rochester would score twice more in the final inning but Madonna would run them out of Ilitch Ballpark 19-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Garbacik scored three runs, had two RBIs and hit the game's lone home run.
• Sharkas went 3-of-4 batting, scoring two runs, and led all players with three RBIs.
• Cavin went 4-of-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
• Matkin tied Garbacik for the most runs scored with three.
• Staelgraeve and freshman Brady Krzciok also scored two runs each.
• Cornell and Zachary Beadle each had two RBIs.

Game 2:

The Warriors would get an early lead this game, up 5-0 going into the bottom of the second. The Crusaders' first score of game two would come from a rocket shot off by senior catcher Zachary Beadle that flew over the centerfield fence. A sacrifice fly from freshman Luke Babcock brought home Krzciok for the score to end the inning. The Crusaders would hold off the Warriors in the top of the third, rushing them off the field after just three at bats. A double by Krzciok would hit Matkin home in the bottom of the inning, but Madonna still trailed 5-3 after three.

With the first at bat of the fourth for Madonna, Garbacik ripped off his second home run of the day with a bomb over the fence of left field. With a single to right field, Staelgraeve tied up the game for the Crusaders at 5-5 as Sharkas made it home. Krzciok would add another RBI to his day, bringing Staelgraeve home and taking the lead. After four, Madonna was in the lead 7-5.

They began to run up the scoreboard in the fifth, starting with Sharkas being walked home. Brady Krcziok brought home Matkin with the next at bat. With the bases loaded, sophomore Kyle Revere hit a two-run single to add onto their lead. The teams would trade a run in the sixth inning, but Madonna still led 12-6 with three innings remaining. 

Rochester would give up two free runs for the Crusaders in the eighth inning, first as junior Steffan Dyl walked home. Soon after, junior Cal Fornier scored on a wild pitch to make it a 15-6 game. The final dagger by Madonna came from Babcock, who hit a two-run single to end the game early after eight innings, as Madonna secured the 17-6 win and a sweep over Rochester.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Beadle went 2-of-4, scoring three runs including a home run, and recording two RBIs.
• Krzciok went 5-of-5, scoring two runs and three RBIs.
• Matkin went 2-of-3, scoring three runs.
• Staelgraeve went 2-of-4 and scored two runs with two RBIs.
• Garbacik scored his second home run of the day.
• Sharkas scored two runs.
• Babcock recorded three RBIs.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will hope to remain undefeated in conference play as they head to Fort Wayne, Indiana to face the Indiana Tech Warriors in a four-game series beginning on Saturday, April 1st at 1:00 pm.

CONNECT WITH THE CRUSADERS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
SUBSCRIBE/DOWNLOAD TEAM SCHEDULES: Download Center
DOWNLOAD THE NEW MOBILE APP: Google Play | iOS