LIVONIA, Mich. - In a matchup between the top two teams in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, the (RV) Madonna Crusaders Softball Team (21-5, 4-0) hosted the (RV) Indiana Tech Warriors, (26-4, 6-0) in a double-header. Game 1 of the series turned out to be a pitchers' duel between Indiana Tech's Savannah Bravo and the Crusaders' All-American ace Maeson Schlaud. In a game that would go on to span twelve innings, Schlaud would go on to break the Crusaders' single-game strikeout record with 19, but the Crusaders would still lose 3-2 in a heartbreaking way. The Warriors would go on to get the sweep with a 6-3 win over the Crusaders in Game 2, handing Madonna their first conference losses of the season.

GAME 1:

The matchup between the Crusaders and the Warriors was nothing short of a chess match, as both teams struggled to decipher their opponent's pitcher. The game ran scoreless for four innings, until the Warriors drew first blood in the top of the fifth innings, going up 1-0. It was in the bottom of that same inning that the Crusaders would get their first hit of the day, as freshman Jessica Dunkel found a gap in left center field for a triple. The Crusaders would be unable to get Dunkel home though, ending the inning still down 1-0, but gaining some confidence against Bravo. Indiana Tech would score once more in the top of the seventh though, seeming to stab the final dagger into Madonna.

Just as it seemed like all hope was lost for the Crusaders, down 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, Schoolcraft College transfer Autumn Reed stepped up to the plate for Madonna. Finally getting the best of Bravo, Reed lifted a hit all the way over the fence of left field, soaring its way to a home run to give the Crusaders the late-game momentum shift they'd been itching for. Dunkel followed her up with a bomb into the right-center gap that got her all the way to third; her second triple of the game. A big-time double from junior Kelsi Littleton to center field brought Dunkel home to tie up the game and take it into extra innings.

Despite already being well-over 100 pitches on the day, the Crusaders kept Schlaud on the mound going into extra innings of play. Going into the eighth inning, Schlaud sat at 12 strikeouts on the day. The current Madonna record for strikeouts in a game is 17, set by Jessica Irwin in 2008. As the game continued to be an absolute stalemate, the long-standing record began to seem more and more obtainable for Schlaud, who was now at 15 after two extra innings while the game remained tied at 2-2.

Going into the top of the eleventh, Schlaud now stood one behind the strikeout record with 16. She would breeze past it this inning, throwing two more strikeouts this inning to get to 18 and the long-standing record. However, once Madonna got back to the plate, they were still unable to figure out Bravo, who made quick work of them once again. In a heartbreaking manner, the Warriors would get the elusive final run of the game, as an error by the Crusaders' second-baseman led to an inside-the-park home run to end the game with a 3-2 loss for the Crusaders in a game that stretched nearly double the length of a softball game. Schlaud would go on to throw one more strikeout for the Crusaders before their final swing, etching her name in the record books with 19 strikeouts in one game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Schlaud threw 19 strikeouts, a new school record, and threw over 200 pitches while on the mound for all twelve innings.
• Reed had one hit for a home run to left field.
• Dunkel scored one run and had two hits, with both being triples.
• Littleton had one RBI and stole one base.

GAME 2:

A dropped fly by the Crusaders' outfield led to an unfortunate first run by the Warriors to start the first inning, down 1-0 after the top of the first. Stepping up to bat, lead-off hitter sophomore Alissa Gauthier was determined to get the Crusaders on the board to tie it up. After reaching first on an error, Gauthier used her athleticism to beat the Warriors' catcher's arm to second for the steal. She would then advance to third on a groundout, eager to book it home. Sadly for Gauthier, the Warriors would secure the innings' third out before she even had a chance to race home.

Gauthier stayed determined to get the elusive first run for the Crusaders heading into the bottom of the third. With a single to center field, she got herself into scoring position as she once again outran the Warriors' throw to second. With their All-WHAC catcher Bailey Martin at the plate, Gauthier prepared to take off. As Martin rattled off a double, Gauthier would round third and not look back, reaching home for the score and making it a 1-1 game.

Late in the fifth inning, senior Amy Clegg would reach first for the first time since returning from injury off of a fielders' choice. An error by the Warriors' third-baseman on the next at bat would get Gauthier to first and Clegg all the way to third. Gauthier would then use her speed to get into scoring position as she stole her way to second. A single by Martin to follow would catch the Warriors off-guard, allowing her to advance to second on the throw, and bring both Gauthier and Clegg home. While it seemed momentarily that momentum had shifted into the Crusaders' favor, the Warriors would go on to close them out 6-3 after this, securing the sweep over Madonna.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Martin went 2-of-4, hitting in all three of the Crusaders' runs.
• Gauthier scored two runs and stole three bases.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will hope to regain their confidence as they head to Adrian, Michigan to take on the Siena Heights Saints (3-18, 0-4) in a double-header beginning at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, April 5th.

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