LAKEVIEW, Ind. - - The Madonna softball team saw its 2008 season come to a close at the hands of the Bethel College Pilots on Thursday in the championship of the 2008 NAIA Region VIII tournament at Newton Park.

INDIANA TECH - ELIMINATION GAME
The Crusaders staked starter Jess Irwin to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Cat Sidor hit a fly ball to center with the bases loaded that was dropped and scored Tara LaMilza, Kathleen Smiley and Brittney Scero to make it 3-0 MU.

MU added two more runs in the fourth as LaMilza led off with a walk and moved to third on a double by Kelly Lesko. Scero brought LaMilza in on a bunt single to make it 4-0. It became 5-0 when Sidor reached on a fielder's choice that plated Lesko.

Irwin had little trouble with Tech the rest of the way, allowing just three more runners the rest of the way, picking up her 24th win of the season. She allowed just two total hits and struck out eight. Scero had two hits and a RBI to lead MU at the plate.

BETHEL - CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
MU faced off with the host Bethel College Pilots, knowing it would have to win two straight to advance to the National Tournament.

Madonna had a threat going in the bottom of the first as Tedi Johnston doubled to right center and moved to third on a Christina Finch single, but Johnston tried to score and was thrown out at home, keeping the game scoreless.

Bethel got to Irwin in the third, scoring four times with the big blast coming off the bat of region player of the year Katie Boocher in the form of a three-run homer to make it 4-0 BC.

MU got a run back in the third, as Lesko reached on a single and moved to second on a ball off the bat of Scero that was misplayed by the Pilot infield. Lesko would come around on a ball off the bat of Johnston that was misplayed as well to make it 4-1.

BC added another run in the fourth to push its lead to 5-1 and seal the game and end the Madonna season.

Irwin took the loss, just her sixth of the season. Shay had two hits in the defeat while Lesko scored MU's run.

MU ends the season at 36-14-1 and captured both the WHAC regular season and tournament titles.