Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ROSEMONT, Ill.-- Madonna University opened its non-conference slate in dominant fashion Thursday, rolling to an 8-0, six-inning run-rule victory over No. 23 Saint Xavier (Ill.) behind a relentless lineup and a combined three-hitter at The Dome in Rosemont, Ill. The Crusaders scored in five of six frames and broke the game open with steady pressure rather than a single big inning.
GAME 1:Â
The decisive stretch came early, as Madonna built a 3-0 cushion over the first two innings and never allowed Saint Xavier to recover. In the first, B. Anteau singled to shortstop to drive in Ashley Rosiewicz, who had started the Crusaders' offense with a base hit. One inning later, Rosiewicz delivered the game's pivotal swing, drilling a two-run single through the left side to plate Fait Peschke and S. Spisz and quickly make it 3-0.
Madonna's lineup continued to stack quality at-bats, finishing with 13 hits and seven RBIs while leaving only six on base. Rosiewicz led the attack with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs, setting the tone at the top of the order. Brynn Anteau added a 2-for-3 day with an RBI and two runs scored, repeatedly sparking rallies. Ella Thomas matched that production with two hits and two RBIs, including a run-scoring single to left in the sixth that pushed the lead to 8-0 and closed out the scoring.
Extra-base damage came courtesy of Faith Cramton, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Her ground-rule double to left-center in the fourth inning scored Peschke and stretched the advantage to 6-0, underscoring the Crusaders' ability to drive the ball into the gaps. Earlier, in the third, Rylee Fitzpatrick and Thomas each produced RBIs on fielder's choices, bringing home Anteau and Izzy MacCaughan as Madonna methodically widened the margin.
That offensive support was more than enough for starter Camille Oyer, who anchored the shutout. Oyer worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits while striking out two and throwing 82 pitches. She kept Saint Xavier off balance and out of scoring position for most of the evening, and with two outs in the sixth turned the ball over to the bullpen to finish off the combined three-hitter. Madonna's staff collectively held the Cougars to three hits, three walks and no runs over six innings, needing only 87 pitches to complete the game.
Defensively, the Crusaders were clean and efficient, committing no errors while Saint Xavier was charged with one. Madonna also matched Saint Xavier in runners left on base at six apiece, but the Crusaders converted far more of their opportunities, cashing in with multi-run frames in the second and third and adding insurance in the fourth and sixth.
GAME 2:
A five-run first inning capped by a two-run home run from P. Whitmore set the tone as Madonna powered past Saint Xavier (Ill.) 9-3 in a neutral-site matchup Thursday night at The Dome.
The Crusaders jumped on Saint Xavier starter P. Antkiewic immediately, stringing together three extra-base hits in the opening frame to seize control. Rosiewicz started the game with a triple to right-center and came home on a wild pitch for the game's first run. Later in the inning, Anteau ripped an RBI triple down the left-field line to score Regan Finkbeiner, and Cramton followed with a ground-rule RBI double to left to make it 3-0. Whitmore then delivered the decisive blow, driving a two-run shot to right field to push the advantage to 5-0 before Saint Xavier recorded the final out of the inning.
Saint Xavier answered in the second, cutting the deficit in half with a pair of run-scoring singles. H. Matlock and N. Johnson set the table, with Johnson lacing a ground-rule double down the left-field line to move Matlock to third. S. Antkiewic singled up the middle to bring in Matlock, and F. Crane followed with an RBI single to left to pull the hosts within 5-2. The Cougars continued to apply pressure in the third, plating another run on a groundout by S. Spisz that scored E. Thomas and a fielder's choice by H. Matlock that brought home J. Casas, trimming Madonna's lead to 8-3.
Madonna's offense, however, kept producing enough separation to stay comfortably in front. In the top of the third, Whitmore again came through, lining a two-run single to center and advancing to second on the throw as two runs crossed to restore a six-run cushion at 8-2. The Crusaders added their final run in the fourth when Jessica Dunkel singled through the right side to drive in Finkbeiner, with Anteau advancing to third to cap the scoring at 9-3.
Whitmore finished with four RBIs on the night, going 2-for-4 with the first-inning home run and the two-run single in the third. Dunkel led Madonna's 14-hit effort with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Cramton chipped in two hits, including a double, one RBI and a walk. Overall, the Crusaders totaled one home run, two triples and a double, striking out just once and leaving five runners on base.
In the circle, Avery Wolverton earned the win for Madonna, working 4 2/3 innings. Wolverton allowed six hits while striking out three and throwing 72 pitches, improving to 1-0 on the season. The Crusaders' staff held Saint Xavier to three runs despite 13 Cougar hits, limiting damage by stranding 10 runners and issuing only two walks across seven innings. Defensively, Madonna committed just one error while navigating multiple Saint Xavier threats.
Antkiewic took the loss for Saint Xavier after four innings of work, during which Madonna scored all nine of its runs on 14 hits. Despite the setback, the Cougars matched Madonna with double-digit hits and stayed within reach through the middle innings, but the early five-run deficit proved too much to overcome.
UP NEXT:
The Crusaders will be back in action at the dome on Friday, February 13th for another doubleheader with William Penn University and Indiana University Southeast. First pitch is set for 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM.
