LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University softball team (31-6, 14-0) celebrated their seven seniors on Senior Day in their final weekend home game as they took on Concordia University (14-14, 9-5). The Crusaders were able to sweep the Cardinals bringing their winning streak to 14 straight with a 6-5 win in game one and a 8-0 five inning run rule mercy in game two.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Game 1:

Concordia came out swinging, capitalizing on a first-inning error to take a 1–0 lead. The Cardinals added three more in the third with a flurry of well-placed hits, including a two-RBI double that put them up 4–0 early.
The Crusaders' who were held scoreless through the first three innings, had their bats come alive in the fourth inning when Alissa Gauthier delivered a clutch two-run single to right-center, cutting the deficit to 4–2. That spark carried over to the fifth, when Madonna strung together three more runs—highlighted by a bases-loaded single by Ella Thomas and a key throwing error by Concordia's shortstop—to jump ahead 5–4.
Concordia tied the game in the top of the seventh with a gritty sacrifice fly, setting up a nail-biting finish.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mackenzie Ming led the inning off with a huge double to put the Crusaders in an excellent spot to win. A single from Jessica Dunkel was not enough to bring around pinch runner Jillian Harris but the ever so reliant Thomas came up with a huge walk off RBI single sealing the game for the Crusaders and keeping their winning streak alive with the 6-5 victory.
Camille Oyer started on the mound for the Crusaders going 2.2 innings with five hits given up and two strikeouts. It would be Courtney Ludescher who would come up big for the Crusaders in the middle innings stopping a two out rally in the second then shutting the Cardinals down through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Ludescher would go 3.2 innings giving up just two hits and one run with three strikeouts. Jane Anderson would come in in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and third with one out allowing one run to come across on a sacrifice fly but finishing the inning right after to also pick up her 13th win of the season. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Gauthier would go 2-for-3 with two singles.
• Brynn Anteau would go 4-for-4 with a double.
• Ella Thomas would go 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Game 2:

Game 2 was a much different look than game one. After Madonna celebrated their seven seniors they came out ready to play and did not look back.  Jane Anderson got the start on the mound and you could not write a better script for the senior on senior day. After Anderson's perfect game on Friday, she would finish this contest with a no-hitter going all five innings with four strikeouts and no hits allowed.​
 Madonna wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating one run in each of the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, an RBI groundout from Ashley Rosiewicz brought in the game's first run. The Crusaders doubled their lead in the second inning when a wild pitch scored Mackenzie Ming from third.​
The Crusaders' offense exploded in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to break the game wide open. A two-run double by freshman third baseman Anteau and a two RBI singles from Rosiewicz and Rylee Fitzpatrick highlighted the offensive outburst, giving Madonna a five inning  8–0 mercy victory.​


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Gauthier would go 2-for-3 with two singles. 
• Anteau would go 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two doubles.
• Regan Finkbeiner would finish 1-for-2 with a solo inside the park homerun.
• Rosiewicz would go 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will be back in action Wednesday, April 16th for their final home game of the regular season for a  WHAC doubleheader against Defiance University. First pitch is set for 3:30 PM. 

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