(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia baseball hosted rival Madonna on Saturday afternoon in their final WHAC series of the regular season. The Crusaders would jump out to early leads in both contests and rode the momentum to 6-0 and 8-6 wins over the Cardinals.

Game 1 – MU 6, CUAA 0 

Joe Tany started on the mound for the Cardinals, going 5.2 innings while picking up 3 strikeouts and surrendering 6 runs (4 earned). Madonna got on the board first, scoring in the bottom of the 2^nd for a 1-0 lead. A Joe Jones double put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the 3^rd for the Cardinals, but the Crusaders would shut the door on the CUAA offense and pick up 2 more runs of their own in the 4^th.

Madonna picked up another run in the 5^th and 2 in the 6^th to extend their lead to 6. Mackenzie Martin came in to finish the effort for the Cardinals on the mound, getting a strikeout in 1.1 innings pitched. Concordia threatened late in the game, getting bases loaded with 1-out in the 6^th and two runners on in the 7^th, but could not get across the plate in the contest.

Game 2 – MU 8, CUAA 6

Jacob Henry started the second game on the bump going 3.0 innings with 2 strikeouts and 6 runs against (3 earned). The Crusaders opened up the second half of the doubleheader series quickly, continuing to ride the momentum from game 1 to a 3-run opening inning. After a pair of scoreless innings in response by Concordia, Madonna struck again, getting back-to-back homers in the top of the 3^rd to extend their lead to 6.

The Cardinals bounced back with ferocity in the bottom of the 3^rd. The scoring opened when a bunt by Johnny Shields led to a throwing error by the Crusader catcher, leading both Robert Brenay and Aaron Brazelton to score. After a pair of walks, a sacrifice bunt, and a pitching change by the Crusaders, James (Jimmy) Wressel reached on a fielder's choice to 2^nd, driving in Johnny Shields. Jarret Batanian's bases loaded single to right would bring home both Ryan Kotecki and Joe Jones, as the Cardinals cut the deficit to just 1-run before the 3^rd inning would end.

Timothy Pomaville would come in to pitch for the Cards in the 4th, going the final 6 innings, recording 4 strikeouts while allowing just 2 runs. After 2 Madonna runs in the 4^th, Kyle Hebner got in on the action, hitting a moonshot home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 2.

Both team's bats slowed down following the wild opening 5 frames, including Madonna's offense recorded just two more base runners total in the final 4 innings. Concordia threatened in the 8th, getting a runner on 1st and 2nd, but were unable to cash in, and the Crusaders shut the door the rest of the way, holding on for an 8-6 victory.

Concordia will wrap up their regular season play on Tuesday when they head to University Center, MI to face off with Saginaw Valley State in a 9-inning contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05pm at the SVSU Baseball Complex.