Crusaders
Fall To Cougars In Regional Debut
May 8, 2008
BOX SCORE
NAIA
REGION VIII FIRST ROUND
#16
MADONNA vs. #19 SPRING ARBOR
at Forest Glen Park (Huntington, Indiana)
HUNTINGTON, Ind.
– The MU baseball team waited 24-hours to play, and now find themselves in a
hole after falling to Spring Arbor University, 6-4 in the first round of NAIA
Region VIII tournament action Thursday night. The loss sends MU to the loser’s
bracket game at 1:00 pm tomorrow versus familiar foe, Indiana Tech.
The
Crusaders opened the scoring in the second inning as lead-off man Ryan Morrow
(Taylor, Mich.) singled to left and came home on a Levi Cheshire
(Troy, Mich.) two-run homer to left, giving MU a quick 2-0 lead.
The lead
held up until the fourth when MU starter Will Kennedy (Westland,
Mich.) ran into trouble after striking out four Cougars through the first
three innings. SAU started its rally with pitcher Jesse Bachman reaching on a
fielding error by Cheshire. Brad Baker followed with a double down the right
field line. After inducing Eric Vojkofsky to ground out to the mound, Kennedy
intentionally walked Jim Baker to load the bases. Jeff Hollister produced a
sacrifice fly to right, cutting the lead to 2-1, before Lucas Rider flew out to
right to end the threat.
After
retiring the Crusaders in order in the fourth, SAU struck again in the fifth
with back-to-back singles from Jon Schaible and Bachman and a three-run home run
from Brad Baker to take a 4-2 lead. After the next two hitters reached on an
error and walk respectively, Jon Herbig delivered a two-out, two-run single
through the right side, to chase Kennedy and give SAU a 6-2 lead.
Reliever
Carl McDevitt came on and held to Cougars scoreless over the next
two-and-one-third, fanning three of the seven batters in that span.
The MU
bats came back in the seventh when Pat Kenny led off the inning with a
solo blast to left center, cutting the lead to 6-3. After Scott Boyer
drew a walk and Shawn Little struck-out, Zack McMillin laced a
shot down the left field line but was caught in a run-down between first and
second. McMillin eventually made it to second safely, but Boyer was cut down
trying to score. Pinch-hitter Rikco Rhoades grounded to short to end the
inning.
The lead
shrunk to 6-4 in the eighth when Morrow led-off with a single and Cheshire was
hit by a Bachman fastball. Dave Herrick singled to right, plating Morrow,
cutting the lead to two.
That was
as close as the Crusaders would get, as Bachman finished off the night, going
the distance while fanning five to earn the win. Kennedy takes the loss for MU,
falling to 7-3 on the year.
Spring
Arbor (32-7) moves on in the winner’s bracket to face Huntington at 4:00 pm
tomorrow. Madonna (36-13) faces Indiana Tech in an elimination game at 1:00 pm.
Contact:
Matt Fancett, Asst. AD - Media Relations
(734) 432-5610
