WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- The sixth-ranked Madonna Crusaders' kicked off the 2025 season with a three-game series against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) who are ranked No. 3 in the Preseason NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. In the first Top 10 match-up in the NAIA this season, the Crusaders went into Williamsburg and put up a fight in all three games but only secured one win in the last game of the series.

GAME 1: FIRST INNING STRUGGLES LIFT PATS OVER CRUSADERS

After the Pats retired the side in the top of the first, Jane Anderson entered the circle to start her senior campaign. Anderson led the Crusaders last season with a 0.92 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched However, to start 2025 the Crusaders defense had a rocky start with giving up two runs to let Cumberland jump out to an early lead. After that, Anderson and the Crusaders settled back in putting up two scoreless inning while only giving one one hit. 

In the top of the third, 2024 NAIA Second Team All-American Alissa Gauthier got the offense going with a one-out single then would steal second base. Following a pop out, freshman Brynn Anteau came through with a two-out RBI single up the middle for the first hit and first RBI of her Crusader career to cut the Pats lead in half 2-1. After a hit-less third inning from Anderson, Coach Pezzoni turned to sophomore Camryn McMillan. In a pivotal inning, McMillan forced two ground balls and let her defense to the work, In her two innings of work she allowed zero runs and only one hit. The Crusaders couldn't get their bats to wake up enough and fell in their season opening game since 2018.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Crusaders bullpen of McMillan and Camille Oyer went three innings, zero runs, two walks, and a strikeout
• Anteau went 1-for-3 with an RBI in her collegiate debut 
• Gauthier went 1-for-3 with a run and stolen base

GAME 2: CRUSADERS FALL TO PATS IN HEARTBREAK FASHION

The Crusaders took a page out of the Pats book and had their bats going early. In the first inning, Gauthier singled up the middle, Regan Finkbeiner and Anteau both drew a walk and the Crusaders had the bases loaded with no outs. That brought up Ashley Rosiewicz who in 2024, was tied for the team lead in RBIs and delivered once again with an RBI single to right field to open the scoring and give Madonna a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Mackenzie Ming stepped up to the plate and delivered a SAC-fly to center field to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead. 

After the Crusaders early attack, sophomore Courtney Ludescher took the circle for her season debut. Ludescher quickly dialed in provided Madonna with four scoreless innings and two strikeouts.

The bottom of the fifth inning, is where things took a change. After a pitching change, the Pats found momentum from a couple of Crusaders mishaps. With one out, the Crusaders drilled the second batter of the inning. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third off an infield single. Now with runners on the corners with one out for the Pats, there was a line drive to center field the Madonna misplayed and both runners scored to tie things up 2-2. Cumberlands kept their foot on the gas and after a three-up, three-down sixth inning from Madonna they scored another two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2 and was enough to secure the win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

•  Of the six combined runs Cumberlands scored in both games, only one run was earned 
• Ludescher in her season debut went four innings, gave up two hits, and struck out two

GAME 3: CRUSADERS DOWN #3 PATS IN FINAL GAME OF THE SERIES

After a quick top of the first, the Pats responded with getting their first three batters on and had the bases loaded with no outs. After a mound visit from Coach Pezzoni the Crusaders escaped with only letting in a single run off of a SAC-fly. In the top of the second, freshman Rylee Fitzpatrick smashed a lead-off double to left-center field. Ming stepped up to the plate and delivered and RBI single up the middle to tie things up 1-1. One batter latter and now with Ming on third, Ella Thomas grounded out the second base, but did a job and scored Ming to make it 2-1. 

Both defenses settled in until the top of the fifth where Madonna tacked on a four-spot. It all started with a one-out walk from Gauthier and Finkbeiner reaching first on an error. Now with runners on first and second, Anteau stepped up to the plate and hit ground ball right by the second baseman up the middle and made it 3-1. Following a Rosiewicz walk and a Fitzpatrick line out the the pitcher, brought up Ming and she drew a basses loaded walk to make it 4-1. Now with Emma Mossing up to bat, she hit a blooper to shallow right field that scored two more run and Madonna took a commanding 6-1 lead. 

Cumberlands tried their best to come back, they made it 6-3 after five innings but Madonna tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh which ultimately was thr dagger. The Crusaders ended up winnings over No. 3 Cumberalnds 8-5 for their first win of 2025

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

•  Ming went 2-for-3 on the day with two RBIs and a walk
• Mossing came up big with three RBIs
• Rosiewicz drew three walks on the day

UP NEXT: 

The Crusaders will be back in action on Friday, February 14 when the go to the NAIA Leadoff Tournament to play six game throughout the weekend. The will first take on Indiana University at South Bend on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. EST and following that game up against William Penn University (Iowa) at 8:30 p.m. EST.

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