SOUTH BEND, IND --  Madonna University used a fast start and a complete-game effort from right-hander Trey Acker to secure a 4-2 win over Indiana South Bend in a seven-inning contest Friday afternoon in South Bend, Indiana.


GAME 1:
The Crusaders did all of their scoring in the first three innings and then leaned on Acker, who scattered four hits over 7.0 innings. The starter struck out seven and did not issue a walk, throwing 84 pitches with 55 strikes to earn the victory. Indiana South Bend starter Josh McCormick was effective but hurt by his defense, allowing four runs — only one earned — on seven hits in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Madonna struck quickly in the bottom of the first. After Ty Stepek reached and came around, Aamir Mitchell opened the scoring with an RBI double to bring Stepek home. Moments later, Kooper Etheridge scored when Kevin Davis reached on an error by the shortstop, pushing the Crusaders' lead to 2-0 and capitalizing on early pressure at the plate.
The Crusaders added what proved to be decisive insurance in the third inning. With two runners aboard, Donovan Thompson put the ball in play and reached on an error by the third baseman, a misplay that allowed two unearned runs to cross and extended the advantage to 4-0. Thompson finished with two hits and two RBI, while Etheridge also delivered a strong offensive outing with two hits, including a double, and two runs scored as Madonna totaled seven hits and three doubles on the day.

Indiana South Bend began to chip away in the fourth when Luis Turmero put the Titans on the board with a solo home run, trimming the deficit to 4-1. Turmero drove in both runs for Indiana South Bend, later adding an RBI groundout in the sixth after a stolen base and wild pitch helped set up the scoring chance for Jayden Cummings. Despite Turmero's production, Indiana South Bend managed just four hits, struck out seven times and left three runners on base.
Acker controlled the game's tempo throughout, working efficiently with no walks and keeping Indiana South Bend off balance outside of Turmero's two RBI opportunities. Madonna's defense committed two errors but avoided any major damage behind Acker, who finished the complete game with the tying run never reaching the plate in the final inning.
With the 4-2 victory, Madonna combined timely early offense with a strong starting pitching performance to close out the seven-inning matchup. The Crusaders' ability to cash in on defensive miscues and ride Acker's complete game set a solid tone as the team continues its early-season slate.

GAME 2:
Madonna University rode a dominant outing from starter Alex Duley and a four-hit performance by T. Stepek to a 5-0 nonconference shutout of Indiana South Bend on Friday night.

The Crusaders set the tone early and never trailed, striking for a run in the first inning and methodically adding on behind steady pressure at the plate. That early support was more than enough for Duley, who overpowered the Titans across five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts and no walks to anchor a combined four-hitter.

Madonna broke through in the top of the first when A. Mitchell singled to right, driving in Stepek for a 1-0 lead. The Crusaders doubled the advantage in the third as K. Etheridge came home on an RBI groundout by Jason Serafinch. Madonna finished with 10 hits and left nine runners on base, consistently putting Indiana South Bend under pressure despite a handful of missed opportunities with men on.

The decisive stretch came in the sixth inning, when Madonna created separation. With the Crusaders already up 2-0, Stepek delivered the biggest swing of the night, driving a triple to right-center to score Luke Spicer and make it 3-0. Etheridge followed with a single to center to bring in Stepek and push the margin to 4-0. In the seventh, C. Noon crossed the plate on a throwing error by the catcher for an unearned run and a 5-0 cushion.

Stepek headlined the Madonna offense, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, a triple and an RBI. Etheridge added a 3-for-5 line with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base, while Madonna swiped three bases as a team. Mitchell chipped in with the first-inning RBI single that put the Crusaders ahead to stay.
On the mound, Madonna's staff combined for 12 strikeouts over nine shutout innings while scattering four hits and working around two defensive errors. After Duley's five-inning gem, the Crusaders' bullpen finished off the final four frames to secure the shutout and close out the four-hit effort.
Indiana South Bend managed four hits and drew one walk but could not cash in, stranding six runners. L. Brown was the lone multi-hit performer for the Titans, going 2-for-3 and reaching a third time after being hit by a pitch. Starter A. Parker took the loss despite working 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs before turning it over to the bullpen, which allowed two more runs—one of them unearned—over the final 2 2/3 innings.
The result gave Madonna a statement road win built on pitching depth and timely extra-base power, with Duley's strikeout-heavy start and Stepek's all-around production providing a clear blueprint for the Crusaders as they move deeper into the early-season schedule.