WARRIORS SPLIT GAMES WITH CRUSADERS; TAKE FIRST GAME IN TEN INNINGS
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rochester Christian (Mich.) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
|
Madonna | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rochester Christian (Mich.) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
|
Madonna | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | 21 | 16 | 1 |
LIVONIA, Mich. - The Warriors got a vital win in the first game of their doubleheader against the Madonna Crusaders on April 17, winning 6-5 in ten innings. Aidan Alspaugh led the Warriors in hitting on the day with five hits and three RBI.
Alspaugh kicked the Warriors off in the first game, recording an RBI double to advance Luke Jayaraman, who started out at second base thanks to a stolen bag. The Crusaders tied things up in the bottom of the first, and both teams remained scoreless in the second inning. In the third, the Warriors scored two runs thanks to a Lucas Bateman single, which created a Madonna error that allowed Jayden Peterson and Jack LaRue to advance home. The Crusaders responded with two runs of their own to knot things up at 3-3.
RCU got into some trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, with the Crusaders' defense holding the Warriors scoreless while the hosts scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. However, the Warriors made a big push on both sides of the ball, shutting down the Crusaders in the sixth and seventh innings. In the seventh, LaRue and Alspaugh nailed two important hits, beginning with a LaRue one-RBI double down the left field line. On the next at-bat, Alspaugh singled to right field, allowing LaRue to take home.
Reliever Drew Schultz gave RCU some much-needed and timely plays after taking the mound in the sixth. One of those plays was the pitcher taking out a Madonna batter in the bottom of the ninth who attempted to advance to third base. That play set up the Warriors' score in the tenth inning. Bateman was the hero in the tenth, doubling to left field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Two at-bats later, Bateman took home during a double-play to give RCU the lead. In the bottom of the tenth, the Warriors closed out the game with three big outs to take the win for their sixth consecutive victory.
The second game wasn't an ideal one for the Warriors, with the Crusaders taking a 12-1 lead after two innings. Cael Kuzinski took the first RBI for the Warriors, singling through the left side to advance Beau Falkenhagen to home. The Warriors wouldn't score again until the fifth inning, when Alspaugh homered to left field.
UP NEXT
The Warriors will take on the Concordia Cardinals on April 18 at Bill Shinsky Field.
Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications
Featured Image: Hannah Miktus - Hannah Mitkus Photography