The Madison College WolfPack struck again as they won two more games over the Triton College Trojans to extend their conference win streak to seven Monday evening at Robin Roberts Field in Madison. The WolfPack won the opening game of the doubleheader with a 4-3 win in the bottom of the seventh inning, before cruising to a 9-3 victory in the second game.
In the first game of the doubleheader the WolfPack scored three unanswered runs with a score in the bottom of the first and two more runs in the bottom of the third for the 3-0 lead. Given a three run lead, starting pitcher Joel Effertz tossed five and two third scoreless innings while scattering two hits, giving up two walks and striking out five before being replaced by Jake Peterson. Peterson record an out to complete the six and Parker Schrage came into close the game in the top of the seventh. Things didn't go as planned as Schrage was roughed up for three earned runs in a third of an inning and the Triton Trojans tied the game, 3-3. Casey Doucette and Andy Stochl each pitched a scoreless third of inning to preserve the tie, and the WolfPack headed to the bottom of the seventh and their last shot at winning the game before extra innings.
Tanner Vavra led of the pivotal seventh inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by the Trojan shortstop. Trevor Burmeister's beautiful sacrifice bunt moved Tanner Vavra another 90 feet closer to scoring and the Triton chose to intentionally walk cleanup hitter Andrew Wasmund. With runners on first and third and Triton lined up to induce the inning ending double play, the Trojan hurler instead struck out Jordan Chardukian before Tanner Vavra scored on a rundown. Tanner Vavra's seventh inning run was the difference and Madison picked up the walk off win as they improved to 6-1 in N4C play and 22-8 overall. Andy Stochl, the third reliever of the game, was credited with the win.
In game tow, Triton jumped out with a run in the first inning of WolfPack starter Quintin Zander, before they scored five of their own runs in the second inning. James Furlano got the ball rolling when he reached first on a one out single to right center, and advanced on a fielder's choice by Jon Dybevik. After another out was recorded, Ryan Freitag came up big in the clutch with a three run home run to put the WolfPack up 3-1, but the offensive barrage wasn't over in the frame. Tanner Vavra singled to left for another Madison base runner, and brother Treysen Vavra followed with his first triple of the year to put the home team up 4-1. Andrew Wasmund then plated the younger Vavra with a double to down the right field line and the 'Pack held the big 5-1 cushion.
Triton College scored a run off of Zander in the top of the third before he settled down and gave the WolfPack the dominant pitching performance they needed. Up 5-2, Madison scored solo runs in the fourth and fifth inning before adding two more in the sixth to put them up 9-2. The pesky Triton Trojans added one more run in the top of the seventh off of reliever Brent Mueller, who came in in the fifth inning, before he recorded the final out and Madison walked away with the 9-3 win. Zander picked up his third win of the year in five innings of solid work. Freitag led the team with three big RBI and recorded the home run in the five run second inning, and Tanner Vavra added three hits to lead the team in that category. Tanner Vavra also scored three times, doubled, and stole two bases. Treysen Vavra went 1-for-3, added his first triple of the season, drove in a runI, and scored twice. Wasmund added two RBI as did Landon Tenhagen.
Next up for the 23-8 WolfPack is another doubleheader at home as they host Heartland Community College on Wednesday, April 20. The first game starts at 2:00 PM.
