GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Madonna University steadily built an early lead, then broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning to cap a 13-3 road win over Cornerstone (Mich.) on Friday afternoon.

GAME 1:
The Crusaders scored in each of the first two innings and posted multi-run frames in the fifth, sixth and seventh, finishing with 13 runs on 16 hits and no errors. Ashley Rosiewicz and Brynn Anteau delivered the decisive blows in the seventh, each ripping a two-run double as Madonna stretched a 8-1 advantage into a commanding 13-1 margin before Cornerstone plated two runs in the bottom half.
Madonna set the tone early. In the first inning, Anteau singled home Regan Finkbeiner for a 1-0 lead. One inning later, Rosiewicz doubled in Finkbeiner and Faith Peschke to push the advantage to 3-0, giving the Crusaders all the offense they would ultimately need. Cornerstone cut the deficit to 3-1 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Paige Liddell, but the hosts never drew closer.
The Crusaders answered quickly in the fifth. Pinch-runner Izzy MacCaughan scored on an RBI single by Rylee Fitzpatrick, and Ella Thomas followed with another run-scoring single to make it 5-1. Madonna continued to apply pressure in the sixth as Faith Cramton delivered an RBI single and Carson Kulhmann added an RBI knock, stretching the lead to 8-1 and setting up the decisive final frame.
Rosiewicz headlined the Madonna offense, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs. Anteau finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a double, while Kulhmann turned in a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance. Peschke sparked the attack from the top of the lineup, reaching base consistently in a 2-for-3 outing with three runs scored and a double. As a team, the Crusaders collected five doubles, drew seven walks, stole four bases and struck out just once against Cornerstone pitching, which needed 164 pitches to complete seven innings.
Madonna's pitching staff was efficient and effective, working the full 7.0 innings while allowing only five hits and three earned runs. Crusader pitchers recorded three strikeouts against four walks on 87 total pitches and were backed by error-free defense. Cornerstone managed single runs in the fourth and seventh but could not mount a sustained rally, leaving five runners on base.
With the victory, the Crusaders showcased a balanced performance built on timely hitting, patient at-bats and solid run prevention. Madonna turned a tight early-game margin into a comfortable win, reinforcing the team's offensive depth and defensive consistency heading into the heart of the spring schedule.

GAME 2:
A steady offensive buildup capped by a late power surge and a dominant start from Laci Harris carried Madonna University to a 9-0 road win over Cornerstone (Mich.) in six innings.
The Crusaders broke the game open with three runs in the second inning and never looked back, then put the contest out of reach with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Madonna's lineup pounded out 10 hits, including three home runs, while Harris turned in 5.0 scoreless innings in the circle to earn the victory.
Madonna first seized control in the top of the second. After Rylee Fitzpatrick singled and Jessica Dunkel drew a walk, Payden Whitmore lined an RBI double to put the Crusaders on the board. Faith Peschke followed with a productive groundout to bring in another run, and a wild pitch later in the frame allowed a third run to score, staking Madonna to a 3-0 lead. Cornerstone's staff — starter Kara Sandberg followed by relievers Addi Herbig and Sara Austin — was forced to work from behind the rest of the way.
The Crusaders added on in the fourth when Ashley Rosiewicz delivered the first of her two extra-base hits, driving an RBI double to extend the margin to 4-0. An inning later, the long ball took over. Faith Cramton opened the fifth with a solo home run, and later in the frame Dunkel came off the bench and made the most of her pinch-hit appearance, launching a two-run homer that pushed the advantage to 7-0 and gave Madonna full command of the contest.
Madonna closed the scoring in the sixth with one more big swing from Rosiewicz. Regan Finkbeiner, who had sparked the offense early with a first-inning single, reached on another base hit and stole second to move into scoring position. Rosiewicz followed by driving a two-run home run to left, capping a three-RBI day that also included her earlier double and a hit-by-pitch.
Behind the offensive outburst, Harris set the tone in the circle. The right-hander worked 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering three hits with two strikeouts and no walks on just 54 pitches to pick up the win. The Crusaders' staff combined to limit Cornerstone to five hits overall, did not issue a walk and recorded two strikeouts while needing only 70 pitches, with 53 going for strikes. Defensively, Madonna was clean, finishing the day without an error while Cornerstone stranded five runners.
Cramton finished 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, a run scored and an RBI, while Dunkel reached base three times, going 1-for-1 with a two-run homer, two walks and two runs scored. Whitmore added an RBI double, a walk and a run scored as the Crusaders totaled five walks and one stolen base in support of the pitching staff. With the convincing shutout victory, Madonna continued to showcase a balanced formula of power hitting, efficient pitching and steady defense heading deeper into the spring schedule.