Alissa Gauthier NAIA Opening Round
Ryan Mitchell, MU Sports Information
Senior Bailey Martin (14) steps up to bat.
8
Winner Madonna MU 1-0
0
Olivet Nazarene ONU 0-2
Winner
Madonna MU
1-0
8
Final
0
Olivet Nazarene ONU
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Madonna MU 2 3 1 0 2 8 10 2
Olivet Nazarene ONU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

W: Schlaud, Maeson (1-0) L: A. Timm (0-1)

9
Winner Madonna MU 2-0
1
Indiana South Bend IUSB 0-2
Winner
Madonna MU
2-0
9
Final
1
Indiana South Bend IUSB
0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Madonna MU 1 1 5 1 1 9 9 1
Indiana South Bend IUSB 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0

W: Anderson, Jane (1-0) L: S. Hamilton (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kellen Burke

Softball opens season with back-to-back tournament victories

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Madonna Crusaders' kicked off the 2024 season with a trip to the NAIA Leadoff Tournament. On the tournament's opening day, the Crusaders scheduled two games; first against the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers, then later facing the Indiana South Bend Titans. The Crusaders would open things up by shutting out the Tigers in an 8-0 victory. They would follow up their win with another mercy-rule victory in their second game, taking down the Titans of Indiana South Bend 9-1 in only five innings.

Game 1:

Junior outfielder Alissa Gauthier led off for the Crusaders in the top of the first inning with a double to center field. Freshman Regan Finkbeiner walked with the next at bat. With a double to left field, senior infielder Bailey Martin brought Gauthier home and advanced Finkbeiner to third. Immediately following this, sophomore DP Jessica Dunkel would bring Finkbeiner home with a sacrifice fly-out to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead after one inning.

In the top of the second inning, Finkbeiner would get her first career RBI as she brought home fellow freshman Faith Peschke for her first career run. On the very next at-bat, freshman Ashley Rosiewicz would hit a double to bring home both Finkbeiner and Gauthier to extend the Crusader lead to 5-0 and force the Tigers to make a switch on the mound. 

Peschke would get her second run of the game in the top of the third, as Rosiewicz brought her home with a single to second base. The Crusaders extended their lead to 6-0.

Dunkel would call game in the top of the fifth inning with a double down the left field line, bringing Martin and Rosiewicz home for a two-run strike. In the bottom of the fifth, senior pitcher Maeson Schlaud would continue to shut out the Tigers through five innings. With that, the run rule would go into effect as the game would end in an 8-0 Crusader victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Schlaud recorded six strikeouts and only allowed one hit through five innings pitched.
  • Rosiewicz went 3-of-4 at the plate with one run and three RBIs in her first game as a Crusader.
  • Finkbeiner, Peschke, and Gauthier each scored two runs.
  • Dunkel recorded three RBIs, tied with Rosiewicz for most on the team.

GAME 2:

The Crusaders struck first in the top of the first inning, as Peschke hit Gauthier home after grounding out to second, giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Gauthier would bring home junior infielder Jillian Harris for her first run of the season. 

The Crusaders would go on a tear in the top of the third inning, scoring five runs as they jumped ahead to a 7-0 lead.

Martin would get the run started with a single up the middle that brought Peschke home. Following this, junior Emma Mossing would reach on a fielders' choice that brought home Rosiewicz for the score. With the bases loaded, Harris would be walked as Martin reached home plate. Finkbeiner would hit Dunkel home with a single to center field next. Mossing would score the final run of the inning as Gauthier hit her home for the score.

In the top of the fourth, sophomore Elizabeth Sacavool would reach base on a fielder's choice that would bring Martin home. Gauthier would score the final Crusader run of the game as Rosiewicz hit her home in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 9-0.

The Titans would get their first run of the day in the bottom of the fifth inning, but unable to cut the deficit to less than eight, the game would end in a 9-1 Crusader victory after only five innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Gauthier was a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate and scored two runs and two RBIs.
  • Martin went 2-of-3 at the plate, scoring two runs with one RBI.
  • Peschke, Mossing, and Rosiewicz each scored one run and one RBI.
  • Dunkel and Harris each scored one run.
  • Pitcher Jane Anderson delivered six strikeouts and allowed just two hits in her five innings pitched.
UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will return to the field tomorrow for Day Two of the NAIA Leadoff Tournament. They will first face Indiana South Bend first for Game Two of their series, before taking on Judson University and Saint Xavier University (Ill.) later in the day.
 
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