LIVONIA, Mich. - - The Madonna softball team wrapped up the most successful conference season ni program history, winning its 19^th and 20^th games of the season in a sweep of visiting Cornerstone on Monday at University Field. MU took game one 8-0 and the night cap 12-0. Both games were called after five innings due to the run-rule. Madonna ends the regular season at 32-12-1 overall and 20-4 in WHAC action. Cornerstone ends the season at 18-26 overall, 11-13 in loop action.

GAME ONE
The Crusaders hung four runs in the bottom of the first to open up a 4-0 lead. Cat Sidor (Livonia, Mich.) reached on a one-out single and moved to third on Tedi Johnston’s (New Boston, Mich.) double to left that put runners at second and third with one out. Designated hitter Christina Finch (Albion, Mich.) then laced a double of her own to center to plate Sidor and Johnston and give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Danielle Richardson (Flint, Mich.) continued the MU hit parade with a single through the left side and was followed by a single from Ashley Shay (Garden City, Mich.)  to score Finch and Richardson, the second run coming home on a fielding miscue by the CU outfield for a 4-0 Madonna lead after one complete.

MU tacked on another run in the third as Shay laced a one-out double to left and moved to third on a ball that was hit by Tara LaMilza (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) that was misplayed by the Golden Eagles that allowed LaMilza to reach first. Shay came home on a ground out by Kathleen Smiley (Wixom, Mich.) to make it 5-0 MU after three.

The Crusaders added two more in the fourth as Scero led off with a double and moved to third when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. Sidor drove Scero home to make it 6-0 Madonna. Johnston reached on an error and Sidor advanced to second. Finch reached on a fielder’s choice to third that erased Sidor but a throwing in trying to turn the double play allowed Johnston to score from first to make it 7-0.

MU starter Jess Irwin (Monroe, Mich.) allowed two base runners in the fifth, but got out of the jam to set up the Crusaders to end the game in the bottom of the inning by scoring a run. Kelly Lesko (Trenton, Mich.) singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A Scero single moved Lesko around third, but she was cut down at the plate. After Sidor reached on an error, Johnston singled to left and scored Scero to make it an 8-0 MU final.

Irwin went the distance, allowing just one hit, striking out eight and allowing just two walks. Johnston went 3-for-4 with a RBI while Richardson, Scero, Shay and Sidor each had two hits in the game. Leah Gruppen lasted just a third of an inning, taking the loss for the Golden Eagles.

GAME TWO
Madonna came out in the night cap and made a statement early, scoring nine runs in the opening inning to take a lead it would not relinquish, winning 12-0.

Back-to-back walks to Sidor and Johnston with one out were followed by a single by Finch to load the bases. Richardson stepped to the plate and delivered a single to center that scored two and gave MU a quick 2-0 lead. Shay then doubled to right center to push two more runs across the plate and make it 4-0.

LaMilza drew a walk and Smiley laid down a bunt single to reload the bases. A walk to Scero forced in a run, making it 5-0. Sidor extended her hitting streak to 29 games with a bases clearing double that made it 8-0. CU bourght in Lisa Heasley into pitch and Johnston greeted her rudely, doubling down the left field line to score Sidor and make it 9-0 after one inning.

MU made it 12-0 with three more runs in the second. Richardson made it 10-0 with a home run to left to lead off the inning. Two batters later, LaMilza hit her first career home run, this one also to left to make it 11-0. Run 12 came about after Smiley beat out a ball that she hit deep in the hole at short. Lesko moved Smiley up with a single up the middle and Smiley came home on a fielding error by Cornerstone off the bat of Scero to make it 12-0.

Michelle Henning (Toledo, Ohio) threw four innings of four-hit ball, keeping CU off the score board. Irwin came in and threw a perfect fifth to give MU a 12-0 win and their 20^th WHAC win of the season.

Johnston, Richardson and Smiley each had two hits while LaMilza joined Richardson with long balls. Maureen Masters took the loss for Cornerstone.

Madonna now hosts the 2008 WHAC Tournament. The royal and gold open play at 10am on Wednesday against UM-Dearborn at University Field.