Madonna Wins 2024 WHAC Softball Tournament
LIVONIA, Mich. - (Box Score) For the second consecutive year, Madonna University has claimed the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) softball tournament championship. The Crusaders, who were the top-seed in the tournament by way of their undefeated conference season, became the first team to win both the regular season and the tournament since Aquinas did so in 2021.
Runs were at a premium in the championship game on Monday afternoon in Livonia. The contest was scheduled to take place at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, Ohio on Saturday afternoon but wet field conditions altered the schedule. Madonna used a big bottom of the fourth inning on its home field, scoring three runs with two outs to take a lead which they would never relinquish. WHAC Pitcher of the Year Maeson Schlaud was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout for her 31st win of the season. Schlaud allowed just two baserunners all game, both in the first inning. Aquinas had runners at first and second thanks to an error and a hit, but were unable to push anyone across. Schlaud's final line included seven innings pitched, six strikeouts, one hit and no walks.
Madonna had eight hits as a team, two of which came from Ashley Rosiewicz. Bailey Martin drove in a pair of runs and Faith Peschke drove in the final of the three.
The season is not over for Aquinas who will earn the WHAC's second automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship. Madonna won the first by way of their regular season title. Opening round action will take place at campus sites May 13-16 with the final site taking place in Columbus, Ga. May 23-29.
All-Time Softball Tournament Champions
2001: (1) Cornerstone
2002: (1) Concordia
2003: (2) Cornerstone
2004: (1) Cornerstone
2005: No Tournament
2006: No Tournament
2007: (2) Madonna
2008: (1) Madonna
2009: (1) Madonna
2010: (1) Madonna
2011: (1) Davenport
2012: (2) Madonna
2013: (2) Davenport
2014: (1) Davenport
2015: (2) Davenport
2016: (1) Davenport
2017: (1) Davenport
2018: (4) UNOH
2019: (3) Siena Heights
2020: No Tournament due to season canceled because of COVID-19
2021 (1) Aquinas
2022: (2) UM-Dearborn
2023: (4) Madonna
2024: (1) Madonna