(ANN ARBOR, Mich.)The Cardinal baseball team resumed WHAC play on Monday against Madonna University. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday with mother nature forcing the games to be played today. Low temperatures limited the offense as both teams struggled to warm up the bats The Crusaders took game one 4-0 and won the second game 2-1.
Jacob Clark (SR/Pinckney, MI) received the start for the Cardinals game one and cruised in the first three innings without allowing a hit. The Cardinals managed to load the bases with one out in the third but an inning ending double ruined any chances to take the early lead.
The Crusaders got on the board in the fifth inning as three hits led to two runs. The Crusaders added to their run total in the seventh inning taking advantage of one hit and one error.
The Cardinals generated activity on the bases in the eighth inning with runners on first and second with one out. Another double play ended the inning and any chance for a Cardinals comeback.
In game two both teams struggled to get the offense going. Grant Steinborn (JR/Flushing, MI) started for the Cardinals and only allowed four hits in five innings of work. Jimmy McKane (JR/Saint Johns, MI) entered in the sixth inning and worked two innings for the Cardinals.
The Crusaders were able to score the game's first run in the sixth inning thanks to two Cardinals errors. The Cardinals bats started to come alive and tied the game in the eight on a infield single by Kainan Bayn (FR/Zeeland, MI). Max Hecht scored the game tying run after he singled to start the inning. Chris Lowe (JR/DeWitt, MI) and Blaine Milheim (SR/Eaton Rapids, MI) also singled to load the bases for the Cardinals. A full count strike out for the Cardinals ended the inning and stifled the Cardinals attempt for a comeback.
The Cardinals stranded two runners in the ninth inning as well to end the game 2-1 in favor of the Crusaders.
The Cardinals will be home again on Saturday, April 6th as they face the Racers of Northwestern Ohio. The first game is set to start at 1pm at Concordia.
