Crusader Seniors Leave Ilitch Ballpark on High Note
VanAllen and company pound out 25 hits in twin bill sweep of Cardinals

April 29, 2007

Site: Livonia, Mich. (Ilitch Ballpark)
Scores: Madonna 10, Concordia 0 (6 inn.) | Madonna 14, Concordia 4 (7 inn.)
Records: MU (29-16, 15-9 WHAC), CUAA (19-27; 9-13 WHAC)
Next MU Event: Tuesday, May 1 -- at Western Michigan, 3:00 p.m.

			Senior third baseman Gary VanAllen knocked in four runs Sunday, including the final run of the home season.

GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

LIVONIA, Mich. – The Madonna University baseball team sent their 10 seniors off in grand style Sunday, sweeping Concordia 10-0 and 14-4 to close the home portion of the 2007 campaign.

In game one, Madonna pounded out 11 hits and watched senior hurler Josh Regits fan six over six innings of work with just two hits allowed in a 10-0 run-rule shortened victory.

The Madonna bats scored eight of their runs in the first two innings including a two-run double by senior Gary VanAllen in the first and a RBI double by freshman Rikco Rhoades in the second.

That was all Regits needed on the way to his third win of the season.

In the nightcap the bats stayed red-hot, pounding out 14 hits off five difference Cardinal pitchers in the 14-4 seven-inning win.

Junior first baseman John McCracken provided the bulk of the punch, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBI's.  Catcher Zach Flavin added a pair of runs driven in while VanAllen contributed two more and fellow senior Manny Alvarado drove in a pair.

Junior Will Kennedy (4-1) earned the win going five innings with two strikeouts and scattering three hits.

Senior Dan Miller put a feather in his cap on senior day, contributing his first career homer, a solo blast in the third inning to start the scoring.

Between games, Madonna honored nine seniors and a graduating junior, playing their final game for the home fans.  The 10 players; VanAllen, Miller, Alvarado, Regits, Kyle Fedorka, Matt Humenay, Mike Orehek, Mike Hand, Tony Luttman and Andy Wojcik saw the Crusaders clinch a berth in next week's WHAC baseball tournament and the #2-seed overall.

The Crusaders will travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan Tuesday for a date with NCAA D1 Western Michigan University at 3:00 p.m. before heading to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the conference tournament hosted by Indiana Tech.

Contact:
Matt Fancett
Assistant Athletics Director
Media Relations & Promotions
(734) 432-5834
mfancett@madonna.edu