PALATINE, ILL. - Looking for a season sweep against Harper College, the Madison College baseball team did just that with a pair of wins Tuesday by scores of 3-0 and 14-4. The day was highlighted by a trio of firsts for the #2 WolfPack as starting pitchers Jake Kopp and Theo Denlinger each earned their first career victories, while fellow pitcher Sam Lund recorded his first career save.

Game #1: Madison College 3, Harper College 0

In by far his best outing of the season, freshman Jake Kopp (1-2) dominated the Hawks lineup. The right-hander from West Bend, Wisconsin, scattered three hits over a season-long six innings and struck out a season-high eight batters. Prior to Tuesday, Kopp had not pitched more than 2 1/3 innings in a game.

Madison College needed every bit of pitching excellence from Kopp, as the WolfPack bats were limited against the Hawks arms, despite eight total hits.

The 'Pack got on the scoreboard with a first inning run as Simon Maurice and Nick Kanavas hit back-to-back singles, and Maurice tagged and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Lund.

Kanavas was also involved in the second WolfPack run. After reaching first on a fielder's choice, Kanavas stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Hawks catcher. Two batters later a balk on the Harper College pitcher allowed the sophomore from Brookfield, Wisconsin, to score and make it 2-0.

The final insurance run was added in the fifth, and it was a common name adding yet another footprint on home plate. Kanavas opened the inning with an infield single and eventually scored on a Bryce Plate RBI base hit to right.

Kanavas had two of the eight Madison College hits, matched only by first baseman Carson Carmody, to go along with two runs scored.

To finish off the win, Sam Lund (1) entered in relief to toss one-hit seventh inning for his first save of the year.

Game #2: Madison College 14, Harper College 4 (6 innings)

The WolfPack bats came alive in the nightcap, leading to at least one run scored in every inning. To get things going, coach Mike Davenport turned right back in the direction of Nick Kanavas. The lead off hitter hustled to first on a dropped third strike, again stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, and then scored the game's first run on a ground ball to the right side by Simon Maurice.

The red-hot sophomore was on the other end in the second inning, dropping down a successful bunt single that also scored Alex Mayer to make it 2-0. 

Two hits and three Harper errors contributed to two more runs in the third, however, the Hawks answered back with two of their own to make it 4-2 after three innings. In the fourth, Nate Schmidt singled after a Chris Lund double to make it 5-2. Then with the bases loaded, Mayer drew a walk to score Kian O'Brien for a four run advantage.

The WolfPack kept swinging in the fifth despite a pitching change for Harper (1-16, 1-11). Kanavas ripped a double to center, followed by another Maurice single to put runners at the corners. Chris Lund hit his second sacrifice fly of the day to score Kanavas, and three batters later it was Bryce Plate with an infield single to score Maurice.

Looking to put the Hawks away in the sixth, Madison College (14-13, 9-3) capped their scoring with six runs on four hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch. Chris Lund, Schmidt, and O'Brien all came through with RBI hits to push the lead to 14-2.

The Hawks fought to within ten runs in the bottom of the sixth, but relief pitcher Hank Schau closed the door with a ground out to Maurice at short for the run-rule victory, the fifth of the season.

The first five hitters in the WolfPack lineup combined for 15 of the team's 17 hits, led by a four hits each for Nate Schmidt and Kian O'Brien. That same group also scored 11 of the team's runs, while driving in eight of them. Nick Kanavas was the top run scorer with three, and Chris Lund registered in a team-best three RBI.

On the hill, Theo Denlinger (1-1) picked up his first win in his first start of the season. The freshman from Cuba City, Wisconsin, did not allow an earned run and gave up three hits in five innings with a season-high six strikeouts. Schau faced six batters in his lone inning, surrendering two runs on two hits.

Madison College, now over .500 for the first time this season, will play its next six games at home, beginning Thursday, April 14 against Elgin Community College (15-8). The non-conference doubleheader at Robin Roberts Field starts at 2:30 p.m.