CHANDLER, ARI. - The Madison College baseball team got off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2012 with 9-2 defeat of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, but the WolfPack saw their perfect start to the season end in dramatic fashion with a 6-5 walk off loss to the Coyotes. The two seven-inning games Friday marked the first ever played between the two NJCAA Division II programs.

Game #1: Madison College 9, Chandler-Gilbert Community College 2

Madison College jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Coyotes, and sophomore utilityman Cade Bunnell was at the center of most of the hot start. The Kansas State University transfer hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the first to make it 1-0, then came up again in the third with sacks packed and singled to right to plate another run. Two batters later sophomore transfer Chase Scharnek brought Caleb Hurt and Bunnell in with a single to center.

Chandler-Gilbert was able to load the bases with one out against starter Hank Schau (1-0) in the home half of the third, but the sophomore was able to limit the damage to a single run. The Park Ridge, Illinois, native continued to work, holding the CGCC bats to just two more hits before being pulled ahead of the seventh inning. Schau finished with six hits and one earned run allowed, issuing three walks, and striking out four.

Coach Mike Davenport was able to relieve his starter thanks to a five-run outburst in the sixth. The frame was highlighted by five walks, including four in a row, after Sage Bruhl singled and eventually touched the plate on a perfectly executed double-steal with Ty Jandrowski. Jon-Anthony Caban closed out the win with a one-run seventh.



Sophomore Ty Jandrowski accounted for 1/3 of the WolfPack's hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Drew Steinmetz went 2-for-2 and scored a run before leaving the game early due to illness. Caleb Hurt had a team-best two runs scored, while Bunnell and Scharnek each drove in a pair of runs.

Game #2: Chandler-Gilbert Community College 6, Madison College 5

The nightcap began the same way the season's first two games did, with Madison College scoring in the top half of the inning. Bryce Plate lead off with a walk, Kian O'Brien followed with a single, and Nick Blomgren loaded the bases with another base knock. Sophomore Carson Carmody brought home the first run with a bunt back to the pitcher, and O'Brien crossed the plate on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

A deep double to center field off right-handed starter Brandon Frank opened the bottom of the second for Chandler-Gilbert (15-11) and sprung the Coyotes offense to life for a four-run inning. It marked the first time this season that the WolfPack trailed in a game.

Madison College came storming back in the fifth. After a walk of Nick Blomgren, Cade Bunnell ripped a triple right field to pull within a run, the tied the game by scoring on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, Caleb Hurt was hit by a pitch for the third time on the day - he was also walked three times - to load the bases for Zach Bailey, and the sophomore worked his own free pass to first to force in the go-ahead run.

The 5-4 advantage dissipated in the sixth when catcher Nick Blomgren let an offering from relief pitcher Tanner Umentum get passed him with a runner at third, who raced in to score and tie the game.

The WolfPack had a chance ot regain the lead in the seventh, however, Ty Jandrowski and  Bryce Plate each flew out with runners at second and third. In the bottom half, a lead off walk came back to bite the 'Pack when a two-out single to right brought home the winning run from third in walk off fashion.

Madison College had just two official hits in the one-run loss, and they belonged to Blomgren and Bunnell, who also registered a run scored and driven in. On the hill, Branden Frank went 3 2/3 innings with four runs, only two of which were earned, on two hits and six walks. Tanner Umentum (0-1) came in for three innings and surrendered a pair of earned runs on five hits and a walk. The duo combined for five strikeouts as each made their WolfPack debut

Madison College (2-1) will have a short turnaround following their nearly six hours of baseball that ended after 9:00 p.m. in Arizona, and will play another doubleheader Saturday against Scottsdale Community College (15-10). The 'Pack is 2-6 all-time against the Artichokes, who have won three straight after wins on back-to-back days during last year's spring trip. First pitch of the opening game is set for 1:00 p.m. CT.



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