MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - After dominating the first day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, the Crusaders hoped to continue their hot streak on day two of the tournament. They opened up the day with a huge win over Penn State Mont Alto, shutting them out 8-0 as pitcher Jane Anderson threw an incredible no-hitter. They then moved on to face Goldey-Beacom College, where they would escape with the 2-1 win as they remained undefeated on their spring break trip.

GAME 1:

To open up the sunny second day of their spring break tournament, the Crusaders took the field against the Nittany Lions of Penn State Mont Alto. It was Jane Anderson who would step to the mound for the Crusaders in their first game. Anderson would start the game by throwing three strikeouts in the first to send the Nittany Lions back to the dugout before they knew what hit them. Gabby Toth would rattle off a double in the top of the second that would bring Bailey Martin and Jenna Gilbert home for the Crusaders' first score of the day. Emily Theisen would ground out on the next pitch, but not before giving Toth the opportunity to make it home as the Crusaders jumped ahead 3-0.

As the Nittany Lions stepped back to the plate in the bottom of the second, Anderson would throw three straight strikeouts in their only three at-bats of the inning. Anderson continued to toy with the Nittany Lions in the bottom of the third, ending the inning once again after just three at-bats. The Crusaders began the fourth inning with a huge drive to left field by Toth that would give her time to make it all the way to third base. With their next at-bat, Theisen popped up as she once again brought Toth home with a sacrifice fly. Jessica Dunkel would get her first hit of the day before the inning came to an end, driving it to left field and giving Elizabeth Savacool the chance to make it home for the score, extending the Crusader lead to 5-0.

Anderson closed out the fourth inning with two more strikeouts, leaving the Nittany Lions still without a hit. The Crusaders would tack on three more runs in the fifth inning, extending their lead to 8-0. Anderson would take the mound once again to end the game, throwing another strikeout in the final inning to complete the no-hitter against Penn State Mont Alto. The Crusaders won 8-0 as Anderson utterly dominated the Nittany Lions from the mound.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Anderson nearly had a perfect game, throwing a no-hitter and striking out ten batters in the process.
• Toth went 2-of-3 at the plate, scoring two runs and recording two RBIs.
• Gilbert also went 2-of-3 and scored two runs.

GAME 2:

Every at-bat was a battle in the Crusaders' second match of the day against NCAA Divison II Goldey-Beacom College. In the first three innings, there was only one hit between both teams. As the top of the fifth kicked off, Emma Mossing singled to the right side and Jenna Gould stepped in to pinch run for her. Gould would steal second, and make her way to third on the throw. A bunt from Theisen would get her a single and bring Gould home for the first score of the day. Their lead was unfortunately short-lived as Goldey-Beacom would match it in the bottom of the inning. With a 1-1 tie entering the seventh inning, the Crusaders did not crumble as the pressure ramped up. 

Dunkel reached first off of an error in the first at-bat of the inning. With the next at-bat, Toth bumped a sacrifice bunt to give Dunkel the chance to advance to second base. As Kiana Morgan rattled off a single, Dunkel exploded off the base at full speed, sprinting all the way home to give Madonna the 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Mae Schlaud would close the game with three straight outs as the Crusaders would escape with the 2-1 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Schlaud threw nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits in the Crusaders' tight win.
• Morgan led the team with nine putouts and one assist.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will resume play in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Tuesday, March 7th at 11:00 am where they will face Iowa Wesleyan University. 

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