FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Madonna University baseball team opened up a four-game series against Indiana Tech on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders won the first game of the day 4-2, before rolling in game two 15-5. 

Game 1:

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when the Warriors got on the board with an RBI single to go ahead 1-0. Madonna responded in the top of the fifth when Nick Krol reached on an error and Alex Garbacik singled. Following a walk by Anthony Sharkas, Jace Matkin stepped up and hit a go-ahead grand slam to give the Donna Boys a 4-1 lead. 

Tech got a run back in the bottom of the fifth but couldn't scratch across any more runs from there. Sam Assaf was able to hang on and get the save in the bottom of the seventh. The Warriors had the tying run in scoring position following a balk but failed to score. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Garbacik was 3-of-4 at the plate. 
• Nate Blain (5-1) earned the win on the mound, throwing six solid innings and recording eight strikeouts. 

Game 2: 

The Crusaders offense was rolling in game two. Bobby Cavin got things started in the top of the first with a three-run home run to right field that scored Matkin and Garbacik. Later in the first, Brady Krzciok hit an RBI double that scored Matt Staelgrave, before Kyle Revere drove home Krziok to give Madonna a 5-0 lead after one inning. 

In the top of the second, Matkin hit his second home run of the day to extend the lead to 6-0, before hitting his third home run of the day in the top of the fourth. The senior hit a ball over the left field fence for a three-run shot to make the score 9-0. 

Madonna's offense could not be stopped, as the Crusaders got RBI doubles from Revere and Zachary Beadle, while Garbacik drove in two runs with an RBI single. Indiana Tech tried to dig itself out of a 14-0 hole by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth and three times in the seventh. The Crusaders however were able to earn the victory in eight innings via the mercy rule.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Matkin was 3-of-4 with four RBIs.
• Krzciok and Staelgrave also had three hits each.
• Riley Vermander (3-1) earned the win on the bump with six innings pitched and only two runs allowed. 

UP NEXT:

Madonna and Indiana Tech conclude their series Monday at 1:00 PM in Fort Wayne. The Crusaders will try to extend their nine-game winning streak.

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