HOOVER, Ala. — A four-run surge in the fifth inning and a dominant start from right-hander T. Acker carried Madonna to a 5-4 victory over Indiana Wesleyan in a neutral-site matchup Friday afternoon at the Hoover Metro Complex.
GAME 1:
Locked in a scoreless battle through four innings, the Crusaders broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With traffic on the bases, B. Reed delivered the game's decisive hit, driving a two-run double into the gap to finally crack Indiana Wesleyan's pitching. Later in the frame, K. Etheridge followed with a two-run single, capping the four-run outburst and giving Madonna a 4-0 cushion that held up the rest of the way.
The offensive breakout backed a standout outing from Acker, who kept Indiana Wesleyan off the board for 6 2/3 innings. The Madonna starter scattered five hits, struck out five and worked around multiple base runners to protect the early scoreless tie and then the midgame lead. His effort set the tone in a game where Indiana Wesleyan finished with 13 runners left on base despite collecting nine hits and drawing three walks along with three hit batters.
Indiana Wesleyan threatened early and often but could not break through against Acker. In the first inning, G. Payson tripled into the outfield to put pressure on the Madonna defense. A. Sinish advanced to third on the play but was thrown out at the plate as the Crusaders executed the relay to keep the game scoreless. That defensive stand proved critical once Madonna seized control in the fifth.
Indiana Wesleyan mounted a late comeback in the top of the eighth, cutting the deficit to one. B. Seitzinge singled to spark a three-run inning, and C. Bush followed later with a two-run double as Indiana Wesleyan trimmed Madonna's lead to 4-3. Reliever D. Zilch entered in support and, despite inheriting the rally, helped the Crusaders escape with the lead intact and eventually secured the save. Indiana Wesleyan's push came against reliever J. Jurczyk, who took the loss after being charged with the runs in the eighth.
Madonna answered immediately in the bottom of the eighth with a key insurance run. J. Serafinch lined a run-scoring single to extend the margin to 5-3, providing critical breathing room heading into the ninth. Indiana Wesleyan again applied pressure in its final at-bat as G. Vineyard opened the ninth with a double and later scored on an RBI groundout by L. Ruoff to make it 5-4, but the Crusaders closed the door to preserve the one-run win.
Reed led Madonna's offense with his two-run double, while Etheridge and Serafinch each added run-producing hits in the late innings. The Crusaders finished with six hits, including a double and a triple, and were hit by pitches four times to help generate baserunners. Indiana Wesleyan's attack was paced by Seitzinge, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Bush, who recorded a two-run double. Payson added a triple and two walks as Indiana Wesleyan outhit Madonna 9-6 but could not overcome missed opportunities and the Crusaders' timely hitting and pitching.
GAME 2:
A seventh-inning home run proved decisive Friday as Madonna University dropped a 3-2 decision to Indiana Wesleyan in a neutral-site contest in Hoover, Alabama.
The Crusaders carried a 2-1 lead into the top of the seventh before Indiana Wesleyan's C. Bush delivered the game-changing swing. After B. Brosmer reached and eventually came around to score, Bush followed with a two-run homer that flipped the score to 3-2. Indiana Wesleyan held that margin through the final three outs to hand Madonna a narrow loss despite a strong mid-game surge.
Madonna fell behind early when Indiana Wesleyan's T. Vojtkofsk opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. The Crusaders answered in the fourth as L. Spicer tied the game with a solo shot of her own, leveling the score at 1-1 and providing a spark in the middle innings.
The Crusaders seized their first lead in the fifth. After reaching base and pressuring the defense on the basepaths, T. Stepek came around to score on a single to right by K. Etheridge, putting Madonna in front 2-1. Madonna's offense finished with seven hits and three stolen bases, generating traffic throughout the game but ultimately leaving seven runners on base.
Indiana Wesleyan managed three runs on six hits and played error-free defense, while Madonna was charged with one error. The Crusaders matched the Wildcats in power with Spicer's home run and were slightly ahead in overall hits, but the late swing by Bush and Indiana Wesleyan's ability to capitalize in the seventh made the difference.
Reliever T. McGlothin shut down Madonna over the final three innings to earn the win for Indiana Wesleyan, allowing no hits and just one walk while striking out one. Madonna's M. Sevensma took the loss in relief after surrendering the seventh-inning go-ahead homer. Stepek highlighted the Crusaders' offensive effort, reaching base four times with three hits, two stolen bases and a hit-by-pitch while scoring one of Madonna's two runs.
Madonna will look to build on the positives from the performance — including productive base running, a brief lead against a quality opponent, and timely power from Spicer — as the Crusaders continue early-season play away from home.
