Crusaders Split a Pair on Opening Day in Tucson, Arizona
Ballinger earns win against Trinity International after striking out seven

		Hannah Godfrey kicked off the 2007 season with four hits on the day in MU's two games.

March 2, 2007
Site: Tucson, Arizona
Next MU Event: Sat., March 3 -- vs. Azusa Pacific -- 10:30 a.m. ET

UM BOX SCORE | TIU BOX SCORE | SEASON STATS

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Madonna softball team kicked off the 2007 season with a split in a pair of games at the Tucson Invitational Games on Friday.

The Crusaders lost to the University of Mary (ND), 7-6, in eight innings and then defeated Trinity International University (IL), 8-6, in the nightcap.

In the MU season opener, Mary jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Crusaders plated four runs in the sixth inning to tie the game.  The Marauders added two more runs in the seventh inning only to have Madonna knot the game at 6-6 after a single by freshman Samantha Bell (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) that plated a pair of runs.

In the eighth inning, Mary scored their seventh run of the game and held MU scoreless in the home half of the inning to hang on for the win.

Senior hurler Shannon Noder (Lincoln Park, Mich./Lincoln Park HS) took the loss for the Crusaders after pitching a complete game while surrendering 11 hits, six walks and three earned runs.  Noder also chalked up five strikeouts in her first outing of the season.

Sophomore outfielder Mary Kate Setta (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea HS) went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Crusaders in the opener with an RBI.

In the nightcap, Madonna opened up a 6-1 lead over Trinity International in the first three innings of play, only to see the Trojans fight back to trail 6-5 heading into the fifth inning.

After a pair of scoreless innings by both squads, Madonna tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning after back-to-back RBI singles by sophomore Tedi Johnston (New Boston, Mich./Huron HS) and Rachael Kethe (Richmond, Mich./Richmond HS), which plated Kathleen Smiley (Walled Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Western HS) and Danielle Richardson (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer West HS).

The Trojans scratched out a run in the bottom of the seventh inning but Madonna junior pitcher Liz Ballinger (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns HS) struck out the final batter of the night and left the bases loaded to clinch the Crusaders first win.

Ballinger (1-0) pitched a complete game and scattered 11 hits, while striking out seven and walking only one batter to earn the win.

Sophomore outfielder Hannah Godfrey (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott HS) led the Crusaders at the plate during the day with a 4-for-8 performance with two stolen bases and two runs scored in two games.

The Crusaders will return to action on Saturday, March 3 against Azusa Pacific at 10:30 a.m. ET and then play Hope International at 12:30 p.m. ET in Tucson.


Contact:
Tony Baldwin, Sports Information Director
(734) 432-5834
tbaldwin@madonna.edu