ROCKFORD, ILL. - In need of wins to bolster a chance for a sixth straight North Central Community College Conference crown and a 36th overall conference title, the Madison College baseball team left their fate in someone else's hands with a pair of losses at Rock Valley College. The WolfPack dropped a 1-0 ballgame in the opener despite a great performance from pitcher Brandon Parr, and succumbed to the Golden Eagles in a 11-4 defeat in the nightcap.

Game #1: Rock Valley College 1, Madison College 0

It came down to two errors and a well excited sacrifice fly. With two outstanding pitchers going toe-to-toe and the game scoreless in the fifth, the Golden Eagles took advantage of two WolfPack mistakes to tally the only run of the game. Shortstop Kian O'Brien committed errors on two of the first three batters in the inning, allowing the lead off hitter to reach third base. A sacrifice fly to right fielder Ryan Makuski was enough to plate the lead runner and net the home team a win.

The Madison College loss spoiled yet another outstanding outing from sophomore righthander Brandon Parr (5-2). The Eagle, Wisconsin, native scattered two hits, allowing the one unearned run, with four strikeouts in a losing effort. It's Parr's first loss since March 12, ending a streak of five consecutive wins. In two outings this season against RVC, he is 1-1 with one earned run on three hits in 11 innings of work.

Offensively, the WolfPack bats were shut down by Rock Valley's Zac Skwarek. He struck out six batters and two hits, both off the bat of designated hitter Carson Carmody.

Neither pitchers issued a walk, while both hit one batter in the game. Madison College committed four errors defensively.

Game #2: Rock Valley College 11, Madison College 4

After being shut down in game one, both offenses were looking to get it going in the nightcap; however, it was the Golden Eagles bats that did the most damage. And the WolfPack defense again helped out.

Facing 'Pack freshman Jake Kopp, the Rock Valley College (18-17, 12-8) offense registered multi-run innings in each of the first four frames. It started with two outs in the first, when a walk and an error were followed by two singles to score a pair of runs.

The visitors tied it in the top of the second, as Simon Maurice drove in Ryan Makuski and Ronnie Cross with a single to center.

In the bottom half, a walk, a single, and an error led to two more runs for a 4-0 advantage. However, once again, the WolfPack answered in the third, scoring tying the game with two tallies of their own. Nick Kanavas walked to lead off and Drew Steinmetz double to left, setting up a Kian O'Brien sacrifice bunt to first to plate Kanavas. Then Carson Carmody remained hot at the dish with a run-scoring single on a hard-hit ball back up the middle.

From that point on it was all Golden Eagles, pulling away with three runs in the third off three hits and two errors. During the inning, lefthander Alec Haluzak entered in relief of Kopp to record the final two outs. Haluzak ran into his own trouble in the fourth, giving up three more runs on two hits, one walk, and the team's fifth error of the game.

Jake Kopp (2-3) suffered the loss for his 2 1/3 innings of six hit ball. Of the seven runs allowed by the West Bend, Wisconsin, native, only three were earned. He also walked three and struck out three. Haluzak allowed two earned runs on two his in his inning-plus. Riley Pawelski tossed 1 2/3 innings with two hits and one run allowed, while Dominick Golubiewski came in to pitch the final out of the sixth inning.

In the hitting department, seven different players picked up a base knock, with Simon Maurice leading the way with two RBI.

As a result of the weekend's game, four teams are interlocked a top the N4C standings with 15 wins each. Triton College (15-5) holds their own fortune in their hands, with doubleheaders against Harper College and RVC yet this week. The College of DuPage sits second at 15-7-2, just percentage points better than Madison College at 15-8-1. The Chaparrals own the tiebreaker over the 'Pack, courtesy of a 2-1-1 head-to-head record. And Joliet Junior College is 15-9. 

The WolfPack (22-20-1) are off until Thursday, April 28, when they travel to Black Hawk College-Moline (14-17) for a doubleheader against the Braves. First pitch in Moline, Illinois, is set for 2:00 p.m.