UPLAND, Ind. -- On February 21, 2026, the Madonna University Crusaders traveled to Upland, Indiana, to split a high-scoring doubleheader against No. 9 Taylor University. In a day defined by powerful hitting and fluctuating leads, Madonna claimed a decisive victory in the opener before the Trojans surged back to take the nightcap.

GAME 1: Madonna 13, Taylor 7

Madonna overcame an early deficit to overpower the Trojans in the first contest. After the Crusaders took a slim 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Taylor jumped ahead 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning following RBI singles by Nate Simpson and Ben Kennedy. Madonna began their comeback in the third when Kooper Etheridge grounded out to score Ty Stepek, followed by a dominant five-run fourth inning. The rally was highlighted by Luke Spicer's RBI double and a massive three-run home run from Etheridge that pushed the score to 7-4.

Taylor managed to tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fourth, but Madonna regained control permanently in the fifth. Gus Simon singled to center before Donovan Thompson launched a two-run blast to right field. The Crusaders added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings to secure the 13-7 victory. Jason Jurczyk Jr. earned the win (1-0), providing 3.1 innings of scoreless relief while striking out three.

GAME 2: Taylor 11, Madonna 8

The second game of the day saw the Trojans flip the script, overcoming a late deficit to split the series. Madonna took an early lead in the first on an RBI single by Etheridge, and Stepek extended that lead in the third with a three-run home run to left-center. Stepek was a force throughout the game, finishing with five RBIs and a double.

Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, Taylor's offense exploded for eight runs. Simpson ignited the comeback with a two-run homer to right field, and Fletcher Roemmich followed with a two-RBI single to push the lead to 7-4. The Trojans capitalized on a Madonna throwing error that allowed three more runs to cross the plate, extending the lead to 11-4. Madonna attempted a desperate rally in the top of the seventh, as Stepek hit a two-run double and Logan Ellis added an RBI single, but the effort fell short at 11-8. Gage Gongwer earned the win for Taylor, while Matthew Sevensma took the loss for the Crusaders.

UP NEXT: 

Looking ahead, the Crusaders (6-5) will travel to face Indiana University at South Bend for another challenging doubleheader on February 27, 2026. The two teams are scheduled to take the field for a 1:00 PM start in the first game, followed immediately by the second contest at 4:00 PM. Madonna will look to build on the offensive momentum displayed against Taylor as they continue their 2026 campaign.