ROCHESTER, MINN. - It certainly was not the start to the season the Madison College softball team was planning for as they pulled the curtain back on the 2016 campaign with three losses at the Rochester CTC Early Bird Invitational on Friday. The WolfPack were outscored 31-5 and are off to their worst start since going 0-4 to begin the 2012 season.

Game #1: #3 Kirkwood Community College (IA) 10, Madison College 3 (7 innings)

Freshman Hannah Jensen made her WolfPack debut, stepping in the circle in the season opener against third-ranked Kirkwood (NJCAA DII). The Eagles got to Jensen early and often, scoring six runs on five hits, four walks, and an error in the first two innings. Jensen allowed three more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, finishing with five earned runs on 14 hits and six walks. The Watertown, Wisconsin, product did earn her first two collegiate strikeouts.

The Madison College offense was limited to just one hit before busting out in the fourth. A pair of walks sandwiched around a Bailey Kratt single to center loaded the bases with one out. After Meredith Holt went down swinging, the WolfPack engineered a two-out rally thanks to a walk by Kiana Smith and a error in right field on a ball hit by freshman Samantha Yaeger to plate three runs. Madison College had just three hits the rest of the game and stranded five runners on base in the seven-inning contest.

Cheyenne Holmes and Bailey Kratt each finished with two hits, while Brenna Seeber picked up the remaining base knock; however, the WolfPack struck out 14 times.

Game #1: Muscatine Community College (IA) 7, Madison College 0 (7 innings)

The second game of the day was a close battle as sophomore hurler Jenalee Wilson and the WolfPack trailed 1-0 through five innings. The Cardinals - who are playing their final year of softball before the school cuts its athletic programs - broke the game open with one swing. A single to center with the bases loaded made it 2-0 before Muscatine's left fielder drove a Wilson offering over the fence for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead.

Wilson allowed the six runs on nine hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Once again the Madison College bats were fairly quiet, piecing together five hits against Muscatine pitching. Brooke Heck led the way with a double and a single as the 'Pack left seven runners on base and struck out ten times.

Game #1: Marshalltown Community College (IA) 14, Madison College 2 (5 innings)

Hitting and fielding let the WolfPack down as they tried to salvage one win during the opening day tripleheader. Playing against Marshalltown Community College in the finale, Madison College committed seven errors, three in the first inning that led to three early runs for the Tigers. The 'Pack closed to within 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Brooke Heck scored on a sacrifice fly to center fielder by Samantha Yaeger.

It remained close until the top of the fourth when Marshalltown put up a six-spot on four hits and two WolfPack errors to take a 9-1 lead. The Tigers added five more runs in the fifth before Madison College got one back thanks to a wild pitch in the bottom half to score sophomore Kiana Smith. The game ended due to the run rule.

Starter Elizabeth Wahl surrendered five earned runs on eight hits, three walks, and three hit batters. The freshman from Marinette, Wisconsin, did pick up six strikeouts before being lifted in the fifth. Summer Zachow recorded the final three outs of the frame in relief and finished with two hits allowed and one K as she faced four batters.

Offensively, Madison College had a hit each by Cheyenne Holmes, Brooke Heck, and Kiana Smith.

The WolfPack will next try for the season's first win on Friday, March 4 at the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) Dome Jamboree, held at The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Illinois. Madison College is the host school for this year's two-day event and will open play against the College of DuPage at 11:00 a.m. They follow with games against #1 Rock Valley (NJCAA DIII) at 3:00 p.m. and Triton College at 7:00 p.m. Madison College will also take on Prairie State College (non-conference), Joliet Junior College, and Harper College on Saturday, March 5. All games are seven innings.

***Madison College did not, in fact, take on the cast of Seinfeld, NFL quarterbacks, and the Milwaukee Bucks in their three games at the Bubble in Rochester.***