Madonna took the first two games of the series, topping UM-Dearborn 9-1 in the opener. Despite a strong performance by starting pitcher John Dyda(FR/Wyandotte, MI), the Wolverines fell 3-1 in the second game.
UM-Dearborn jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the finale and led 5-2 after five innings. The Crusaders rallied for two runs in the sixth and tied the score at 5-5 with a lead-off home run in the seventh. The Wolverines scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off 6-5 win.
The series moves UM-Dearborn to 4-22 overall and 2-16 in the WHAC. The loss for Madonna was the team's first in 17 games in league play this season.
The Wolverines opened the scoring in the finale with two runs in the first, as the team took advantage of two Madonna errors, while Daniel Kerr (JR/Macomb, MI) picked up an RBI. Kerr added his second RBI of the game in the third on a sacrifice fly, scoring Chase Turner (SR/Franklin, MI). The fourth run for the Wolverines came in the fourth on a wild pitch that scored Antonio Carta (SO/Allen Park, MI).
After the Crusaders got two back in the fifth, Kerr recorded his third RBI with a single in the fifth, again scoring Turner. With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Andrew Capone (FR/Warren, MI) led off with a double to right field. Capone advanced to third on a passed ball and the Crusaders intentionally walked the next two batters setting the stage for the walk-off win. Waymond Lemon Jr. (JR/Detroit, MI) hit a fly ball to right field, deep enough to score Capone and end the game.
Justin Marshall (SO/Royal Oak, MI) got the win for the Wolverines, the first of his career. After giving up the tying home run, Marshall shut down the Crusaders in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts. Dan Bos(FR/Livonia, MI) got the start on the mound, going 4.2 innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on two hits, while walking five and striking out two.
Turner finished with two hits, including a double, and scored three runs, while Ryan Beadle (SO/Kalamazoo, MI) added two hits.
In game one, Ramiro Rodriguez (FR/Southgate, MI) took the loss, allowing five runs on one hit, while walking eight and striking out two. Turner finished with two hits and an RBI.
Dyda pitched 7.1 innings in the second game, allowing three runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out five. Justin Dolney(FR/Canton, MI) and Shaun Hannibal (FR/Brighton, MI) each recorded two hits, with Dolney picking up the lone RBI.
The Wolverines continue the WHAC season against Indiana Tech with three games next weekend starting with a doubleheader at 1 pm Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind.
NOTES: The Madonna series was moved from the original dates of Thursday and Saturday due to weather. All three games were scheduled for seven innings. UM-Dearborn was the home team for the series. The win in game three was the first for UM-Dearborn that was decided by two runs or less.
