The Madison College baseball team remained on a roll in N4C conference play as they edged the College of DuPage Chaparrals in the first game of a doubleheader 5-3, before walloping the home team 26-3 in Glen Ellyn, IL. The two conference wins improve Madison's record to 30-9 overall and 11-1 in the North Central Community College Conference. The WolfPack have won 11 straight conference games after losing their conference opener to the Harper College Hawks. The WolfPack now sits atop the conference standings with their 11-1 record.
Madison took an early 1-0 lead in the doubleheader opener when they plated a run in the first on Ryan Freitag's solo home run, but the Chaparrals took the 2-1 lead after scoring a run in the first and a run in the bottom half of the second inning. The DuPage starter blanked the WolfPack in the third before Madison snatched the 3-2 lead with a couple runs in the fourth. Garret Novinski singled to left field and drove in Josh Rowles and Eric DuCharme. Armed with the 3-2 led, WolfPack starter Mitchell Arens couldn't silence the DuPage bats as they plated a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game 3-3. After another scoreless inning for Madison, Quintin Zander replaced Arens in the sixth and blanked the Chaparrals in the inning before Madison College broke the game open with two runs in the seventh for the 5-3 advantage. With one out and runners on second and third, Treysen Vavra drove in Novinski with a fielder's choice and Andrew Wasmund drove in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right that plated Ryan Freitag. At that time Zander pitched his second scoreless inning of the game and struck out three of the four batters he faced in the frame as he secured the 5-3 win for the WolfPack. Arens tossed five innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks in the start. He also struck out four before being relieved by Zander for the last two innings of the game. Zander threw two innings of shutout ball with his lone blemish being the seventh inning walk. He also struck out three in picking up his fourth win of the season.
The WolfPack wouldn't settle for another close game against DuPage as they jumped on top with 10 runs in the first inning of the second game. The team added five and four runs the next two frames and was up 19-0 before the Chaparrals got on the board with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning. After having their lead narrowed to 19-2, the WolfPack extended it with five runs in the fourth and two in the sixth. Up 26-2, DuPage added a run in their final inning as the 'Pack left Glen Ellyn with the 26-3 win to remain undefeated in conference play since losing their first game.
Luke Maldonado registered a team leading four hits in five at bats, including a double, while scoring three times and driving in a run, and two other WolfPack finished right behind him with three hits. Landon Tenhagen finished 3-for-3 with five RBI and three runs scored. He also knocked out one of the WolfPack's four home runs with his second inning three run home run. Trevor Burmeister collected three hits as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run. Burmeister also recorded two of Madison's seven doubles. Jon Dybevik had a great day at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a five RBI and scored three times. Dybevik led the team with two home runs in the 26-3 beatdown of the Chaparrals. Treysen Vavra, Ryan Freitag, and James Furlano all finished with two hits in the game. Vavra and Furlano recorded doubles, and Freitag homered to lead off the game. The WolfPack put together 24 hits in 39 at bats in the 26 run effort. The 26 runs was a new offensive high for the WolfPack as they drove in 25 of the runs that crossed the plate. They also registered 11 extra base hits, including a season high four home runs. Michael Huckabay started the game for Madison and pitched two scoreless innings before being relieved by Brent Mueller. Mueller tossed two frames and was credited with the win. Casey Doucette tossed the fifth and final inning in the big win.
Next up for the 30-9 WolfPack is a home doubleheader on May 1 against Blackhawk Community College. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 1:00 PM.
