Madonna University Athletics

FAYETTE, Mo.-- Madonna turned a one-run deficit into a 4-1 victory over Midland on Tuesday at Reardon Family Field, using a decisive four-run fifth inning and a complete-game effort from Camille Oyer to close out the neutral-site softball matchup.

Midland grabbed the first lead in the top of the fourth when Isabelle Pagan hit a solo home run to right-center, giving the Warriors a 1-0 edge. Madonna answered in the bottom of the fifth, where the game swung for good. Brynn Anteau delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a single up the middle that brought home two runs. Faith Cramton and Rylee Fitzpatrick followed with RBI groundouts, helping the Crusaders score all four of their runs in the frame.

Oyer made that surge stand up. The Madonna starter went the distance, allowing three hits and one earned run across seven innings while striking out five and walking none on 86 pitches. After Pagan's home run, Oyer settled in and did not allow Midland to regain momentum, backing a Madonna defense that played error-free softball.

Anteau finished with two hits in two at-bats and a team-high two RBIs. Ashley Rosiewicz added two hits in three at-bats and scored a run, while Regan Finkbeiner also went 2-for-3 with a run scored as Madonna produced seven hits overall. The Crusaders left five runners on base but made their best scoring chance count in the fifth.

The Crusaders now move on to the NAIA Opening Round final where they only have to win one to move on to the World Series.