CASA GRANDE, ARI. - The season's first home run and the season's first run-ruled decision that included a combined one-hitter were the highlights to a pair of neutral site wins for the Madison College baseball team over Williston State (ND) College on Thursday. The WolfPack won the doubleheader opener by an 8-4 final before taking the nightcap with a 10-0 score in five innings.

Game #1: Madison College 8, Williston State College 4

After a scoreless first inning thanks to an impressive defensive play in the top half when a drop third strike led to a put out at first and a return throw home from Tyler Strzelczyk to Nick Blomgren for the rare 2-3-2 double play to erase an early threat, the WolfPack busted out the bats in a big way in the second. It started with a solo home run over the left field wall by freshman designated hitter Logan Michaels. An error, single, and walk loaded the bases with one out and Zach Bailey brought home another run with a sacrifice fly. Team RBI-leader Cade Bunnell added to his total with a two-run double to center, and then scored on a single by Blomgren. The scoring was capped when courtesy runner Bryce Plate sped from first to home during a single to left off the bat of Caleb Hurt for a 6-0 advantage.



Michaels again got things going in the third, leading off the inning with a single. The DeForest, Wisconsin, native tallied another run three batters later when Sage Bruhl's ground ball to first was misplayed to make it 7-0.

The WolfPack had an opportunity to end the game early when the bases were loaded in the bottom of the fifth, however, the Tetons induced a double play ball and another ground out to keep play going.

A single and an error added another run in the sixth, and starter Hank Schau (2-0) returned to the hill looking to close out the complete game win. To that point, the righthander from Park Ridge, Illinois, had held Williston State scoreless with nine strikeouts, two hits, and one walk. Schau sandwiched two hits and a walk between a pair of K's in the seventh, before Tyler Strzelczyk was brought in to try and close out the win. They lanky righty struggled and could not record the final out while facing four batters. Instead, the Tetons scored four runs on a walk, a single, a dropped third strike, and a hit by pitch. With the tying run coming to the plate, coach Mike Davenport turned to reliever Darren Strasburg, who induced a fly out to centerfield for his first career save.

Michaels finished a career-best 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one driven in, while Caleb Hurt and Chase Scharnek each had two hits. Bryce Plate also scored a pair of runs and Cade Bunnell had a team-leading two RBI.



Game #2: Madison College 10, Williston State College 0 (5 innings)

The star of the opener set the tone again in game two when Logan Michaels made a diving catch from behind home plate on a popped up bunt attempt in the top of the first. Michaels continued to work behind the plate as sophomore Sam Lund was locked in on the pitcher's mound. The former Sun Prairie athlete four base runners on three walks and an error through five innings.

Lund was given a sizable lead in the second when a two-out rally produced seven runs. After Garrett McGraw single home the first run, Sage Bruhl brought home two more with a double to center to make it 3-0. Up 4-0 following a Kian O'Brien RBI single, an error on the right fielder allowed another two runs to score for a 6-0 advantage. The scoring surge was finalized with Chris Lund driving in Nick Blomgren.

The lead grew to 8-0 in the fifth and Lund returned to the mound in the sixth, but would surrender his first hit to the fourth batter after walking the lead off hitter. The righty was removed in favor of Chase Scharnek, who set down his only batter faced on a caught foul tip to preserve the one-hitter. 

The game would come to a close in the sixth with a pair of runs for the WolfPack. Bryce Plate doubled home Caleb Hurt, and two batters, with the sacks packed, Carson Carmody hit a sac fly for the run-rule victory.



Sage Bruhl, Chris Lund, and Bryce Plate all tallied two hits, with Bruhl leading the team in runs batted in with three. Sam Lund (1-1) finished with nine strikeouts and one hit allowed, though he did issue five free passes in picking up his first win.

Madison College (5-5) will play one more day of games in Arizona, which will include a rematch with the Tetons. The WolfPack will travel to Tuscon on Friday and play a nine-inning contest against Pima Community College (13-16), whom they have never beaten in their eight prior meetings. After that, Madison College and Williston State (8-4) will play one, seven-inning game to conclude the 'Pack's ten-day, 12-game trip in the Grand Canyon State. Game one starts at noon in Arizona (2:00 p.m. CT), with game two set to begin approximately at 3:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. CT) from Pima West Campus.

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