LIVONIA, Mich. - Coming off their sweep of Rochester University, the (RV) Madonna Crusaders Softball Team (28-10, 11-5) returned home to face the Aquinas College Saints (31-13, 14-4) in a double-header on Senior Day. The Crusaders recognized the six graduating seniors in their 2023 class: Jenna Gould, Jenna Gilbert, Amy Clegg, Kelsi Littleton, Madyson Roover, and Maeson Schlaud. The Crusaders won Game 1 after ten scoreless innings with a walk-off home run from Littleton, winning 1-0. In a back-and-forth Game 2, the Saints would get the best of the Crusaders, winning 6-5 and splitting the series.

GAME 1:

The Crusaders didn't get their first hit until the bottom of the sixth inning, as they struggled to solve the puzzle of the Saints' pitcher. Senior Pitcher Maeson Schlaud kept them in it though, throwing seven strikeouts and allowing just three hits throughout this time. The first hit of the game for Madonna would come from their leadoff hitter Alissa Gauthier with a double to the right-center gap in the bottom of the sixth. Despite the big hit, they would leave Gauthier stranded on base to end the inning.

The game would go into extra innings as neither team could find their way home. Schlaud delt a no-hitter in these final three innings for the Saints, despite already having thrown nearly 170 pitches on the afternoon. The Crusaders got their third and fourth hits of the game in the bottom of the ninth, but were still unable to bring a runner home for the win. 

In the bottom of the tenth, the Crusaders finally got the best of the Saints' pitcher. Senior Kelsi Littleton stepped up for her fourth at bat of the game. This time, she finally got her pitch, and shot it deep over the fence of center field for the walk-off score to give the Crusaders the 1-0 win. The home run was the first of her career, and the senior was able to get it on Senior Day, securing the Game 1 win for Madonna.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Littleton scored the walk-off score with a home run to center field, her first career home run. 
• Schlaud threw nine strikeouts and allowed four hits throughout her ten innings pitched.

GAME 2:

Sophomore Jane Anderson took over for Schlaud on the mound in Game 2. Despite letting up a three-run shot to the Saints in the top of the first, Anderson bounced back and kept the Crusaders in the game. She threw out the next nine batters without allowing a hit. 

The Crusaders' first hit of Game 2 came from a single by Emily Biggott in the top of the first inning. The Crusaders would begin to rally back after the three-run start by the Saints, as sophomore Mackenzie Ming brought Biggott home with a double to left center. The Crusaders now trailed 3-1 after one.

After hitting a single into right field, an error by the Saints would allow senior and team captain Jenna Gilbert to reach second. Following her up was Autumn Reed who hit an infield single. Reed would get thrown out trying to steal, but Gilbert would book it home on the throw, sliding across home plate for the Crusaders score as they continued to fight back. Now only down one run, the score was 3-2 after two.

The Saints would inch away with another run in the top of the third, but the Crusaders were far from out of this one. After hitting a single that dropped into right field, a Saints error would get freshman Jessica Dunkel into scoring position at third in the bottom of the fourth. Reed would bring Dunkel home with an RBI single to make the score 4-3.

Jenna Gould took over for Anderson at the mound for the top of the fifth, but would quickly find herself in a tough situation. With the bases loaded and only one out, it was Schlaud who came in to save the day, despite pitching all ten innings of Game 1. In only six pitches, Schlaud saved the Crusaders by getting them out of the inning without allowing a run.

Now that the momentum shifted to them following Schlaud's big save, the Crusaders knew it was time to take advantage in the bottom of the fifth. The tying run came from freshman pinch runner Jenalee Herbon off of an error by the Saints. Soon after, a hit by Dunkel would turn into a fielder's choice as junior Bailey Martin got in for the run to take the lead. The Crusaders now held on to their first lead of the day, up 5-4. However, a costly error would be the downfall of the Crusaders late in the game, letting up two runs in the sixth. They would go on to split the series with the Saints after a 6-5 loss.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Biggott was 3-of-4 on the day, leading the team in hits with three and scored one run.
• Dunkel had one run and one RBI.
• Ming had one RBI and hit the Crusaders' only double.
• Martin and Gilbert each scored one run.
• Littleton and Reed each had one RBI.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will head to Adrian, Michigan, on Wednesday, April 26th to face the Siena Heights Saints (12-27, 8-12). The first game of the double header is set to begin at 3:30 pm.