MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College baseball team had not lost in its last five games until Oakton Community College split a two-game set Thursday at Robin Roberts Field. The visiting Owls - who are receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII Poll - won the opener 5-1, but the WolfPack recovered in a big way with a 12-2 win in five innings in the nightcap.

Game #1: Oakton Community College 5, Madison College 1

Despite a changed travel schedule and a delay for a broken down bus, the Oakton Community College baseball team arrived ready to play, especially their pitching staff. The 'Pack managed just four hits in the first five innings against the starter, Christopher Rzewnicki.

During that time, Derek Heffel four runs and Madison College found itself playing from behind. The Owls dented the scoreboard in the inning after a single, an error, and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. A wild pitch from Heffel brought in the first run, and a ground ball to the right side resulted in the second.

Still 2-0 through four innings, a two-out rally netted the visitors some insurance runs. A double and a walk put runners on, while another WolfPack error moved them into scoring position. Oakton's designated hitter took advantage with a two-RBI single to center.

After another run scored against Heffel in the seventh, Madison College prevented a shutout in their final at bat. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Makuski singled and stole second before advancing to third on Bryce Plate's single. Makuski scored when Simon Maurice grounded out to first.

Makuski, who doubled earlier in the game, was the lone WolfPack batter with more than one hit. The Amherst (WI) HS product has hit and scored in five straight games.

Derek Heffel (3-3) suffered his first loss in the month of April, allowing five unearned runs on five hits. The sophomore struck out four batters in his six innings of work. Fellow righthander Dominick Golubiewski entered after a lead off walk to start the seventh, and allowed a hit and hit a batter in his lone inning on the bump.

Game #2: Madison College 12, Oakton Community College 2 (5 innings)

Game two played out much differently, with Madison College breaking out the heavy lumber with 12 runs and 13 hits in five innings.

The scoring began in the second with seven hits leading to a 5-0 lead. Ronnie Cross and Simon Maurice hit back-to-back extra base hits that drove in runs. Cross' triple was his second of the season, moving him into a three-way tie for the team lead in that category. Zach Bailey and Kian O'Brien also tallied runs batted in.

Oakton CC (24-10) tallied lone runs in the third and fourth innings against freshman Hank Schau, however, Madison College (21-17-1) blew the game wide open with seven runs in the fifth to end it early. Seven batters came to the plate before the Owls registered an out, and only nine total were needed before the game was over due to the run rule. Alex Mayer and Ryan Makuski singled in runs around a hit-by-pitch of Carson Carmody that plated another. Drew Steinmetz made it 10-2 with a two-RBI single that scored O'Brien and Carmody. The final play was a Simon Maurice single to left that allowed Makuski and Steinmetz to score, ending the game in five innings. 

Every batter in the WolfPack lineup recorded a hit, though the bottom of the lineup - hitters five through nine - combined for nine of the team's 13. Makuski, Cross, Maurice, and Bailey each had two. Maurice, a sophomore from Oregon, Wisconsin, drove in a team-high three runs, while Steinmetz finished with two RBI. Nick Kanavas, Makuski, and Bailey each scored twice to pace the 'Pack.

Hank Schau (2-1) earned win, rebounding from a loss his last time out against Triton College. The freshman from Park Ridge, Illinois, allowed two unearned runs on three hits and two walks

Madison College is off Friday before playing host to North Central Community College Conference for Joliet Junior College (25-23, 12-8). The WolfPack is 14-5-1 in league play and split a doubleheader in Joliet earlier this month. First pitch at Robin Roberts Field is at 12:00 p.m.