MILWAUKEE, WISC. - Mark the 2016 season as yet another in which the Madison College baseball team demonstrated its dominance as the best junior college team in Wisconsin, doing so with a doubleheader sweep of I-94 rival Milwaukee Area Technical College on Tuesday. With five inning wins by scores of 13-2 and 2-0, the WolfPack extended the win streak against the Stormers to an impressive 27 consecutive games, while also keeping the 'Pack in contention for a possible sixth straight North Central Community College Conference title.
Game #1: Madison College 13, Milwaukee Area Technical College 2 (5 innings)
The last time sophomore
Brandon Parr stepped on the pitcher's mound, he completed the
seven no-hitter in Madison College history with a
6-0 win over Elgin Community College. Against Milwaukee Area Technical College, the WolfPack didn't need that type of masterful performance as the offense lit up the Stormers for 13 runs on 16 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.
Every batter but one registered a hit, with
Nate Schmidt,
Carson Carmody, and
Ryan Makuski - the 4-5-and-6 hitters, all finishing 3-for-4.
Bryce Plate and
Drew Steinmetz also had multi-hit games. Each of the first six batters scored twice, while Schmidt was the most productive with three runs batted in.
The scoring began early with a four-run top of the first, highlighted by run-producing extra base hits from
Alex Mayer, Makuski, and Plate. After adding two more runs in the second and another in the third to take a 7-0 lead, the Stormers were able to push through against Parr for a pair of runs. The Mukwonago (WI) HS product loaded the bases on a walk, an error, and a single, before giving up a two-RBI single with two outs - though neither of the runs were earned.
For the rest of the game,
Brandon Parr (5-1) scattered two additional hits and struck out six to pick up his fifth consecutive win, while also dropping his ERA to a team-best 1.03 through a team-high 35 innings of work.
Madison College busted the game open in the fourth with four runs on four hits.
Carson Carmody drove in two with a single to left, and
Drew Steinmetz made it 11-2 with an opposite field single to drive in Makuski.
To finish off the win early, the WolfPack made it 13-2 in the fifth with two runs on three hits and two errors. Schmidt provided the biggest swing that inning with a run-scoring double to center, allowing Parr to polish off the victory with a four-batter bottom half.
Game #2: Madison College 20, Milwaukee Area Technical College 0 (5 innings)
The nightcap to the twin bill brought with it an even more impressive showing by the visitors. Leading 3-0 after two innings, Madison College exploded for their biggest single inning of the season, scoring a dozen runs on seven hits and four errors to take a 15-0 advantage.
In all, 16 batters came to the dish and five produced run-scoring hits.
Nate Schmidt led the charge, twice singling to right field with runners at third base. The freshman from Pardeeville, Wisconsin, finished the game as one of three batters with three hits, joining
Kian O'Brien and
Zach Bailey.
However, lead off hitter
Nick Kanavas took top honors with a four-hit, four-run, and four-RBI effort. It was capped by a three-run homer to left in the fifth, the final scoring play of the day for Madison College. The sophomore has hit three home runs in the last three games.
Nate Schmidt matched him for team-high honors in the RBI column with four.
Meanwhile, freshman lefthander
Alec Haluzak (4-1) orchestrated one of his best outings of the season, tossing a one-hitter of his five innings on the bump. The former Wilmot Union (WI) HS standout struck out six batters en route to his first win in four outings.
On the day, Madison College (20-16-1, 14-5-1) amassed 33 runs and 32 hits over ten innings. The WolfPack also tallied 12 extra base hits, nine stolen bases, and drew six free passes to first base. On the flip side, Milwaukee Area Technical College (4-22, 2-18) was limited offensively to just two runs on four hits and went down a dozen times via the K.
Winners of four of their last five games, Madison College plays out of conference on Thursday when Oakton Community College (22-8) visits Robin Roberts Field. The Owls are receiving votes in the latest
NJCAA Division II Poll. The first pitch is at 2:30 p.m.
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