(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals took the field for a mid-week matchup against the Crusaders from Madonna University. The Cardinals entered the series on the outside looking in for the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament as they are currently ninth in the conference standings. The Crusaders entered the matchup as third in the conference standings.
The Cardinals entered the matchup exactly at .500 with a 19-19 record overall and 4-8 in WHAC play. While the 20th-ranked Crusaders entered at 20-4 overall and 9-3 in WHAC play.
Game 1: No. 20 Madonna 16, Concordia 1 - 5 Innings
Hannah Duchene would get the starting nod for the first game of the series. Duchene would only be able to get the first out of the game before six runs crossed the plate for the Crusaders.
Madonna came right out of the gate and pieced together six runs on five hits. After Duchene was relieved in the game, Kate Elias came in with runners on first and third and was able to get two quick outs to get out of the inning. The Crusaders added two more runs in the second inning on a single up the middle of the infield.
Three runs crossed the plate for the Crusaders in the top of the third as Cassidy Kane entered the game to pitch as they would score on a sacrifice fly and then a two-run single. The Cardinals would get their sole run of the game on a Cassidy Kane single through the middle to score Bella Lee.
In the fourth inning, the Crusaders would be able to plate four more runs across as they hit a home run over the center-field wall and then two RBI singles. In the fifth inning, Madonna saw one run across the plate on an RBI single.
Three other Cardinals would come into the circle for the Cardinals as Kate Elias, Cassidy Kane, and Kendall Kahl would combine to pitch the final 4.2 innings.
Game 2: No. 20 Madonna 12, Concordia 6
The starting pitcher for the second game of the series for the Cardinals was Paige Anderson. She would end up going 4.1 innings.
The Cardinals would be the team to strike first in game two following a Bella Lee double to start the inning and a bunt single by Anderson. The Cardinals would then run a double steal as Anderson was thrown out at second and Lee came home to score.
The Crusaders were able to get to Anderson in the third as they plated four runs. Four consecutive singles would enable those runs to cross the plate. Getting two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals got the bases loaded as Maddy Grueter doubled, Shannon McAlinden walked, and Abbie Begley singled. Bella Lee would get the first run in, on a fielder's choice, and then another run would come across when McAlinden crossed the plate after an attempted double steal.
The fourth inning saw some sparks from the Cardinal's offense as Payton Lewis would hit a deep home run to left field to score Kennedy Cornette to give the Cardinals the lead in the game. Only two batters later Maddy Grueter would hit her team-leading sixth home run also to left field to give Concordia a 6-4 advantage.
The Crusaders grabbed the lead back in the inning and started to run away in the fifth as they were able to plate eight runs in the inning as they would combine multiple extra-base hits to take back the lead and make it 12-6.
Megan Martin, Kendall Kahl, and Hannah Duchene would all come in to pitch for the Cardinals as Martin and Kahl would all allow two runs, while Duchene would go 2.1 scoreless.
The Cardinals will be back on the field tomorrow afternoon as they will face off against the Harriers from Miami-Hamilton with the first game beginning at 3 pm.
