The Madison College made a step in the right direction as they defeated the Kishwaukee College Kougars 6-4 in the opener of a doubleheader Tuesday night to improve to 5-8 on the year. In the second game of the doubleheader against the NJCAA DI Kougars, the 'Pack couldn't hold on for the win as the two teams ended tied 1-1 before the game was called.

Game #1: Madison College 6, Kishwaukee College 4
 
With both teams scoring two runs in their opening at bats, the home and visiting teams kept the score neck-and-neck as the WolfPack grabbed the lead with a solo run in the top of the second before the Kougars tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the fourth. The opening frame of the fifth inning proved pivotal for the WolfPack, as Trevor Tunison's three RBI single to centerfield gave Madison a lead they would never relinquish. After allowing a Kishwaukee run to score that made the game 6-4 in favor of the WolfPack, the Madison relievers were able to hold on for the two run win.
 
Starter Derek Heffel threw a solid four innings and surrendered three runs in earning the win, before giving way to relievers Hank Schau and Jared Horton. Schau gave up a run in two innings of work, and Horton pitched a clean seventh inning for his first save of the season. Heffel improved to 2-1 on the season.
 
Tunison finished the game as the leader on offense, as he finished 2-for-3 with his three RBI double and a run scored. Ty Jandrowski also recorded two hits and finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Both of his hits were of the extra base variety, as they landed for doubles in the first and fifth innings. Nick Kanavas and Ryan Makuski both also finished with two hits, and Kanavas recorded a RBI, a run scored, and one of his hits was good for a double.
 
Game #2: Madison College 1, Kishwaukee College 1 (To be completed at later date)

The WolfPack grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first off of a Jandrowski single for the 1-0 lead. The game turned into a pitcher's duel, as Clayton Uselman and the Kishwaukee starting pitcher shut the door on any offense in the next three innings. Reliever Theo Denlinger replaced Uselman in the fifth inning and allowed a Kishwaukee sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1. The fifth inning run for the Kougars proved to be the last offense any team would see, as the WolfPack and the Kougars played to a 1-1 tied after seven innings.
 
Kanavas recorded the WolfPack's lone extra base hit of the game with a double, and the trio of Makuski, Carson Carmody, and Jandrowski all added singles. The WolfPack offense was limited to four hits in the game, and Kishwaukee mustered six.
 
The 5-8-1 WolfPack have a few days off before making the trip to Palatine, IL for a Saturday, March 26 doubleheader against the Harper College Hawks. The first North Central Community College Conference (N4C) doubleheader of the season starts at 12:00 PM.
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GAME #2 UPDATE: 3/28/16 4:00 PM

Kishwaukee College and Madison College resumed their 1-1 game at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28, only this time at Robin Roberts Field. The Kougars, still playing as the home team, were able to win the game by a 2-1 walk-off final in extra innings of what was scheduled as a seven-inning game.

After holding Kishwaukee from scoring to close out the seventh, Madison College put a runner aboard in the top of the eighth with a one-out single to right by Simon Maurice. However, Nick Kanavas lined out to center and Maurice was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Ryan Makuski to end WolfPack at bat.

First year righthander Sam Lund returned to the mound in the eighth, and seemed to be in good shape after Kian O'Brien, Drew Steinmetz, and Carson Carmody combined to turn a double play and empty the bases. The Kougars DH followed with a double to right off Lund and advanced to third on a passed ball through the legs of catcher Tanner Van De Hey to put the winning run 90 feet from home. The next batter ended the game with a walk-off RBI single to center.

Lund (0-3) finished as the pitcher of record, going 2 2/3 innings and allowing one unearned run three hits. He did record two strikeouts. The WolfPack was limited to just five hits and was set down nine times via the K.