TUCSON, Ariz. - The No. 6 Madonna Crusaders Softball team went into day three of their spring break trip in a doubleheader with (RV) Bellevue University (Neb.) and (RV) University of St. Francis (Ill.). The Crusaders would go 2-0 on the day, defeating Bellevue 7-6 in their final at bat. They would then take care of business against St. Francis with an 8-0 victory in 5 innings extending their winning streak to seven games.   


GAME 1: Crusaders Rally to Defeat RV Bruins in Opening Round Rematch

In a 2024 Sioux City Opening Round rematch, the Bruins looked to avenge their 7-1 loss to the Crusaders that ended their 2024 season. In the top of the first, Alissa Gauthier got things going with a single to third base. One batter later, Brynn Anteau drove in Gauthier to make it 1-0. Courney Ludescher got the nod for the Crusaders and in the bottom half of the first and struck out two and left Bellevue scoreless. 

In the second inning, the Crusaders didn't miss a beat from the first. With a runner on first and one out, Jessica Dunkel doubled to center field and scored Mackenzie Ming to take a 2-0 lead. Two batters later with Dunkel now on third, Faith Peschke drills an RBI single to center to make it 3-0. 

In the bottom half of the second, the Bruins came roaring back. A lead off walk turned into five hits and five runs before Coach Pezzoni went to senior pitcher Jane Anderson. With Bellevue now leading 5-3 and still had the bases loaded, Anderson used two infield pop outs to get out of the jam. Madonna would respond in the third cutting into the deficit with a sacrifice fly by Ming to make it 5-4. After the top of the third, both pitchers would settle into the game, putting up scoreless frames until the bottom of the sixth where the Bruins would tack on an insurance run, making it 6-4 headed into the top of the seventh.

Once again, the Crusaders had their backs against the wall down to their final three outs.  Anteau started the inning off with a single to left field. Next batter was Ashley Rosiewicz and she hammered the ball for her second home run in her collegiate career to tie the game up 6-6. Madonna wasn't done there, Fitzpatrick singles the left but the ball goes under the glove and through the left fielder's legs and Fitzpatrick ends up on third base with no outs. Ming hits another sacrifice fly to score Fitzpatrick for the Crusaders to take a 7-6 lead. That one run is all Madonna needed as Anderson and the Crusader defense shut down the Bruins and secured the 7-6 victory 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Rosiewicz led Madonna going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs
• Ming went 1-for-2 with two RBIs
• WHAC Player of the Week, Ella Thomas finished 2-for-3
• Anderson went 5.2 innings, allowed one run and struck out three

GAME 2: Crusaders Run Rule RV St. Francis

Game two would feature Laci Harris on the mound for the Crusaders, pitching a shutout, which is her first of the year. In her five innings, Harris gave up only four hits with no walks and relied on her defense as all of her outs would come on the field with nine ground outs and four flyouts. The Crusaders offense would score in every inning but the first as the bats are starting to heat up across the board. Ella Thomas, who is currently leading the team in batting average with a .543 led the Crusaders going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Jessica Dunkel would also go 2-for-3 and would score two runs. The Crusaders would walk away from game two with an 8-0 victory in five innings.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Gauthier would go 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
• Ming would go 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Rosiewicz would finish 2-for-3 with two singles. 

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will be back in action on Wednesday, March 5th as they continue their spring break trip with two games against the University of Jamestown (N.D) and a rematch of the 2024 Opening Round Championship game against No. 11 Northwestern College (Iowa). Game one's first pitch is set for 11:00 AM EST and Game two is set to start at 1:00 PM EST. 


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