Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The WolfPack started off Saturday's Region IV Sectional Tournament with a close 5-3 win over the College of Lake County Lancers 5-3, before losing their second game of the day against the Highland Community College (IL) Cougars 1-4. Madison College, now 1-1 in the Region IV Sectional Tournament has chance to redeem itself and advance to the next round of the playoffs. The WolfPack plays Highland in a must win postseason game at 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 12.
 
In their tournament opener against the Lancers from Lake County, the WolfPack started off in a hole down 2-0, before grabbing the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Lake County tied the game at 3-3 after the first half of the sixth, but the WolfPack answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning for the 4-3 advantage. Madison College tacked on one more insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, and starter Nathan Hoffmann and closer Cody Peterson held the Lancer bats in check in the final two innings and Madison walked away with the 5-3 win.

Ryan McShane and Joe Stubbe both recorded two of the 'Pack's 10 hits, and Taylor Carlson led the team with two RBI. McShane, Stubbe, and Dan Schmidt all recorded doubles in the two run win, and the WolfPack flashed their speed with six team stolen bases. Nathan Pollock led the team with three thefts, McShane recorded two, and Bryce Barsness added one.
 
Starter Nathan Hoffman didn't have his best stuff on the mound, but he still pitched a solid seven and two third innings off 12 hit ball to improve to 7-0 on the season. He also recorded six strikeouts to give him 38 on the year. Cody Peterson relieved Hoffman after the starter recorded two outs in the eighth, and pitched a clean one and a third innings for his second save of the season. Peterson picked off Hoffmann's inherited runner in the eight to end the inning, then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with three strikeouts swinging. The three quick strikeouts bettered his team lead to 53 Ks.
 
In Saturday's second game against the Highland Community College Cougars, the WolfPack looked lethargic and didn't get on the board until the bottom of the fifth inning with one run, after Highland grabbed a 3-0 lead. Down 3-1 after five innings, the WolfPack just couldn't push a runner past the plate and the Highland Cougars scored a run in the eighth for the 4-1 advantage. The Cougars lead proved to be enough and Madison College suffered their first defeat of the Region IV Sectional Tournament.

David Luciani was the only WolfPack batter to record two hits in the game as Madison was limited to just eight in the contest, including zero extra base hits. Luciani finished 2-for-4, Dan Schmidt drove in the lone run, and Ryan McShane scored for the 'Pack. Nathan Pollock did record two steals in the three run loss.
 
Zach Ransom started the game for the 'Pack and pitched five and one third innings. Just like the Madison College offense, Ransom looked out of sorts as he gave up eight hits and three earned runs as he fell to 3-2 on the year. Mac Wichmann threw the final three and two thirds innings and allowed two hits and one earned run in the relief stint.
 
With a 1-1 record in tournament play, the WolfPack needs two wins on Sunday over the Highland Cougars. The team must win their 12:00 PM game to force a second championship contest. The game will be played at Robin Roberts Field in Madison, WI, and hopefully a second game with follow thirty minutes after the conclusion of the first.