Madonna Reaches WHAC Tournament Title Game
May
2, 2007
Site:
Grand Rapids, Mich. (AQ
Softball Field)
Scores: Madonna 3, Indiana Tech
2 | Madonna 7, Aquinas 3
Records: MU (31-14),
IIT (23-19),
AQ (23-19)
Next MU Event:
Thursday, May 3
-- vs. Aquinas/Indiana Tech at WHAC Tournament
-- Grand Rapids, Mich.,
2:00 p.m.
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Madonna head coach Al
White |
GRAND RAPIDS,
Mich.
--
The Madonna softball team escaped the first day of the 2007 Wolverine-Hoosier
Athletic Conference tournament unscathed with a pair of wins against Indiana
Tech and Aquinas securing a spot in the tournament title game Thursday
afternoon.
Madonna edged out Indiana Tech 3-2 in the first round and then disposed of top
seed Aquinas with a 7-3 decision in round two.
The Crusaders relied on solid pitching and timely hitting to help clinch a spot
in the upcoming NAIA Region VIII Tournament.
In the nightcap, Madonna used a four-run sixth inning to down the host Saints en
route to the 7-3 win.
Junior left-hander
Liz Ballinger
(St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns HS) picked up the win in game two after
tossing a complete game and scattering 10 hits and allowing three runs with one
walk and one strikeout.
Sophomore
Tedi Johnston
(New Boston, Mich./Huron HS) had the big hit for the Crusaders in the
sixth inning after she lined a single into left field scoring freshman
Rachael Kethe
(Richmond, Mich./Richmond HS) and junior
Heather Richardson
(Plymouth, Mich./Canton HS) to give MU a 5-2 lead.
Later in the inning, freshman
Samantha Bell
(Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) crossed home plate after a throwing
error by Aquinas second baseman Amanda Barrons. The Crusaders tacked on a
fourth run in the sixth as sophomore
Kathleen Smiley
(Walled Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Western HS) singled up the middle to
score Johnston.
Aquinas would push across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a
sacrifice fly by Ashley Aspinall, but Ballinger was able to hang on for the win
to help the Crusaders advance to the tournament championship game.
Richardson and junior
Christina Finch
(Albion, Mich./Homer HS) each recorded three hits in the win over the
Saints to lead MU at the plate. Sophomore
Mary Kate Setta
(Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea HS) was 2-for-2 at the plate with a run
scored as well.
In the first game of the day, Madonna jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Indiana Tech
after sophomore
Danielle Richardson
(Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer West HS) singled scoring Finch and Bell in the
second inning.
MU added a third run in the third inning as sophomore
Alison Grant
(Carleton, Mich./Airport HS) singled up the middle to plate sophomore
Hannah Godfrey
(Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott HS).
Indiana Tech would plate a pair of runs in the sixth inning off Madonna starter
Shannon Noder
(Lincoln Park, Mich./Lincoln Park HS) to cut MU's lead to one run
(3-2). However, Noder would get out of trouble in the sixth and retire the
Warriors in order in the seventh to help the Crusaders advance in the winner's
bracket.
Noder would earn the win for Madonna after pitching a complete game, scattering
five hits and two runs, one of which was unearned. She also recorded one
strikeout on the afternoon.
Freshman
Brittney Scero
(Canton, Mich./Canton HS) and Danielle Richardson each posted a pair
of hits in the win. Richardson also led the team with two runs batted in.
Madonna will now await the winner of the Indiana Tech/Aquinas game Thursday to
play for the conference tournament championship. Should the Crusaders lose
the 2:00 p.m. game, they will be forced to play again at 4:00 p.m. for the
title.
Contact:
Tony Baldwin, Sports Information Director
(734) 432-5834
tbaldwin@madonna.edu
