Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 In their final regular season tuneup doubleheader against the NJCAA DII Dakota County Technical College Blue Knights, the Madison College softball team didn't fare well losing 1-8 and 3-5 in Madison on April 28, but the experience gained against a top caliber softball program was what the 'Pack was looking for and needed headed into the postseason.
 
In game one, the 'Pack and the Blue Knights were tied at 1-1 after two innings before Dakota County scored one more run in the third to grab the 2-1 lead. Still not out of the game after four innings with the opponent up by a run, Madison and starter Paige Weber were hoping to make a game out of it. Unfortunately the Blue Knights from Dakota County had other ideas and scored five runs in the top half of the fifth inning, before tacking on one more run in the seventh for the 8-1 win. As a team, the Blue Knights outhit the WolfPack 11 to seven, including six extra base hits to Madison College's one.
 
Upperclassmen Marissa Shaner and Madison Milsap paced the team with two hits each as both members of the due finished the day 2-for-3. Besides her first inning double, Shaner recorded the team's lone RBI when she plated freshman shortstop Jordan Bell.
 
Starter Paige Weber allowed 11 hits and eight runs (7 earned) in seven innings of work on the mound. She fell to 2-3 on the year.
 
Things started off much better for the WolfPack in game two as the grabbed a 3-0 lead after two innings and kept the score that way until Dakota County scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Still up 3-2 Madison starter Marissa Shaner kept the Blue Knights in check with two scoreless innings, before Dakota County grabbed the lead and then some with three unearned runs in the top half of the seventh inning for the 5-3 advantage. The Madison bats had no answer and the visitors went on to win the game by two runs.
 
A trio of WolfPack, Andrea Lawrence, Madison Milsap, and Michelle Farino, all recorded two hits to pace the team in the close loss. Both Lawrence and Milsap scored one time, and Jordan Bell recorded the team's only extra base hit with a first inning RBI triple.
 
Starter Marissa Shaner pitched well in the loss but was saddled with her sixth loss to go against five wins. In seven innings of work, Shaner scattered 10 hits while allowing five runs to score (2 earned).
 
Next up for the 'Pack is the NCAA Region IV Tournament Play-in Games on Tuesday, April 30. The best two of three series pits the Harper College Hawks against your Madison College WolfPack, and the first game starts at 1:00 PM.