LIVONIA, Mich. – The Madonna University baseball team dominated its way to the WHAC Championship series on Friday afternoon, defeating Aquinas College 29-6 to win the Pod A tournament. During the game, the Crusaders broke the single season school record for most home runs in a season, and also tied the school record for most home runs in a game. Madonna is now 33-15 overall and advances to the WHAC Final for the fifth straight season, not counting the canceled 2020 campaign. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Playing as the visiting team in their home ballpark, Madonna struck right away in the top of the first with a run. Anthony Sharkas came around to score after stealing third and an Aquinas error. The Saints tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, but the Crusaders responded in a historic way. 

In the top of the third inning, Madonna blew the game open with 15 runs. The Crusaders hit five home runs and nearly batted around twice. Brady Krzciok got the home run party started with a three-run blast, before Nick Krol hit a two-run shot out of the nine spot. The very next pitch following Krol's home run, Alex Garbacik went yard with a solo home run. The final two home runs came courtesy of Jace Matkin and Matt Staelgraeve, as both were two-run shots. 

Baseballs continued to leave Ilitch Ballpark in the seventh inning. Cal Fournier hit a solo shot that broke the single season school record, before Aaron Sexton added to the school record with a solo home run of his own. In the eighth inning, Madonna hit their final two home runs, with Garbacik and Zachary Beadle both hitting two-run shots. Garbacik's home run tied the single-game school record for home runs in a game set earlier this season in a win over Siena Heights. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• 12 of Madonna's 27 hits came during the 15-run third inning. 
• Dustin Cummins (4-0) picked up the win on the mound.
• Garbacik was 5-of-8 at the plate with five RBIs.
• Krol and Jake Zeeb had four hits each. 

UP NEXT:

Madonna heads to Ann Arbor to take on Concordia University in game one of the WHAC Championship series on Monday.