Madonna Advances to NAIA Softball World Series, Aquinas comes up just short

Image: Ryan Mitchell - Madonna Sports Information

(NAIA Opening Round Results) Madonna University Softball continued its historic run last week, punching its ticket to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia. The Crusaders, a two seed in the Sioux Center pod, hosted by Northwestern College (Iowa), won two winner-take-all games to advance to the final site. After beating Grand View 6-3 in their first game, Madonna lost a 3-2 tilt to host Northwestern. The Crusaders then defeated Bellevue (Neb.) 7-1 to advance to the finals and a rematch with Northwestern. Madonna won game one, 8-2, to force a winner-take-all finale. That game proved to be an epic pitchers dual with Madonna coming out ahead 1-0 to advance to the World Series. Madonna will play Georgia Gwinnett on Thursday, May 23 to kick things off. The World Series appearance is the sixth all-time and second in the current pod format.

Aquinas was the No. 4 seed in the Indianapolis pod, hosted by Marian University. The Saints lost 5-2 to Rio Grande (Ohio) in their first game then bounced back and earned a 4-1 victory over Middle Georgia State to advance to a rematch against Rio Grande. This time Aquinas had to upperhand, winning 8-0. The Saints' season came to a close when they lost to No. 1 seed Marian in a 1-0 nine inning thriller. Aquinas finishes the season with a 42-15 overall record.