LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University softball team (19-6, 2-0) faced off in their first WHAC matchup of the season against the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech (8-7, 0-2). The Crusaders were able to sweep the Blue Devils after making a comeback in game one winning 15-7 after five innings and dominating in game two 9-1 in six innings.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

Game 1:

Camille Oyer started on the mound for the Crusaders, and overall had a pretty solid outing. Oyer would go all five innings giving up only five hits and despite seven runs coming across only one was earned. Oyer also had six strikeouts on just 84 pitches.  

The Blue Devils offense would come out determined to make a big upset and in game one jumped out early with a quick five runs where after an error with two outs allowed two runners on a single and a three run homerun allowed 5 runs across. The Crusaders would answer in the bottom of the first with three runs of their own after getting the bases loaded with one out. Rylee Fitzpatrick would get an RBI single and Jessica Dunkel would get a two RBI single of her own to make it a 5-3 ball game. The Blue Devils would not let that deter them as they would pick up two more runs in the top of the second to make it 7-3. But the Crusaders also had an answer in the bottom of the second picking up six runs of their own with three runs coming from a three RBI double from Ella Thomas to give the Crusaders their first lead of the game at 9-7. From there the Crusaders showed their firepower putting up four more runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fifth to pick up a 15-7 mercy victory in five innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Regan Finkbeiner would go 3-for-4 with an RBI.
• Mackenzie Ming would go 1-for-3 with a three run homerun.
• Fitzpatrick would go 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
• Thomas would finish 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a double.

Game 2:

Game two, the Crusaders turned things around and showed their firepower. Jane Anderson would get the start on the mound for the Crusaders going all six innings giving up just one hit and one earned run with six strikeouts on 89 pitches.
The Crusaders would be the ones to strike first in game two picking up three runs off  a Brynn Anteau single, a Fitzpatrick single, and a double steal from Fitzpatrick and Ashley Rosiewicz. The Crusaders would then score one run in the second and third from another Anteau single and an Alissa Gauthier single to take a 5-0 lead. The Crusaders would pick up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth from a two RBI Fitzpatrick double and a Ming single to extend their lead to 8-1. The Crusaders would then get the game sealing run in the bottom of the 6th after a Faith Pescke fielders choice to seal the game in six innings with a final of 9-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Anteau would go 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
• Gauthier would go 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. 
• Fitzpatrick would go 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a double, and a stolen base.
• Rosiewicz would finish 2-for-3 with two singles and three stolen bases.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will be back in action Friday, March 28th as they travel to Grand Rapids to take on Cornerstone University in a WHAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM. 

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