TOLEDO – On Sunday afternoon from Mercy Field in Ohio, the Madonna University baseball team swept WHAC foe Lourdes University in a doubleheader. The Crusaders won game one 3-2, before taking game two in a 12-10 shootout, earning the four-game series sweep. Madonna finishes the regular season with a 30-15 overall record and 24-6 mark in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. 

Game 1:

Madonna's power was on display right away in the top of the first inning, as Anthony Sharkas and Jace Matkin hit back-to-back solo home runs to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead. Madonna added an insurance run in the top of the third to take 3-0 lead. 

Lourdes attempted to make a comeback, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI triple and sacrifice fly. The Grey Wolves couldn't complete the comeback however, as they went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Madonna starter Dustin Cummins struck out two batters in the final inning, including one that ended the game. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Cummins (3-0) pitched a complete game and struck out four batters. 
• Sharkas, Matkin, and Matt Staelgraeve each recorded a multi-hit game. 

Game 2:

The slugfest began with two runs by Madonna in the top of the first, including a sac fly by Bobby Cavin. Lourdes responded with a five run bottom half of the inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Crusaders got a run back in the third inning after an RBI single by Cavin scored Matkin. They then got to within one run in the top of the fifth after a Matkin RBI single scored Alex Garbacik. 

After the Grey Wolves hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth, Madonna responded in a big way in the top of the seventh. The Crusaders hit three solo home runs, one from Garbacik, one from Sharkas, and finally one from Brady Krzciok to take a 7-6 lead. In the ninth, Madonna extended their lead to 12-6 after another home run by Krzciok, a two-run double by Kyle Revere that scored Staelgraeve and Zachary Beadle, and a two-run triple by Garbacik that scored Revere and Nick Krol. 

In the bottom half of the ninth, Lourdes attempted a rally but were stopped after four runs were scored. The Crusaders held on for the victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Victor Mencotti (4-1) earned the win on the mound in relief of Carson Collins. 
• Danny Medlock picked up the save after relieving Mencotti. 
• Garbacik went 4-of-5 at the plate with three RBIs to lead the Madonna offense. 

UP NEXT:

Madonna is set to host a WHAC Tournament pod after finishing in second place in the regular season standings.  Games will be played on Thursday and Friday from Ilitch Ballpark.

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