Box Score As has come to be expected with a
Mike Davenport coached group, the Madison College baseball team is headed back to the NJCAA Region IV Regional Tournament. After losing earlier in the day to Illinois Valley Community College, the WolfPack got their revenge, beating the Eagles 10-6 with the sectional championship on the line.
The 'Pack played good from the jump in game two against Illinois Valley Community College. Up 1-0 in the second, following a passed ball which plated
Brandon Gibis in the first,
Sam Hurt doubled to center to score
Matt Cole and
Dan Schmidt, giving Madison College a 3-0 lead.
Illinois Valley would tie things up in the top of the third, scoring three runs in the inning. However, the 'Pack would just keep plugging away. In the bottom half of the inning,
Dylan Detert singled to right to bring in
Keith Browning and help Madison College regain the lead, 4-3.
After the Eagles tied the game once more, the WolfPack would blow things wide-open in the bottom of the fifth. Tied 4-4, the Madison College offense came through with a six-run effort on three hits.
Schmidt would score Detert on a double down the left field line. Then, a
Courtney Watkins single up the middle allowed both
Luke Yapp and Schmidt to cross the dish.
Up 7-4, another double by Hurt helped to score
Matt Cole and Watkins, resulting in a 9-4 lead for Madison College. Shortly after, Hurt would score on a passed ball. The six-run lead would prove to be more than enough cushion for the 'Pack.
Though Illinois Valley would come through with two additional runs in the top of the seventh, they never came close to tying the game from that point.
Westin Wuethrich was credited with the win for Madison College. Wuethrich threw three and two-thirds innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run.
Ryne Blanton picked up the save for the 'Pack.
Madison College (39-15, 11-1) will play in next weekend's NJCAA Region IV Regional Tournament in Schaumburg, Ill. The tournament will run from Friday through Sunday.