MADISON, WISC. - A pair of hotly contested games came right down to the final out Saturday at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field as the Madison College softball team narrowly earned a sweep of South Suburban College. The WolfPack held off a late rally for a 10-9 win in game one, before needing a come-from-behind effort in the final inning to take the nightcap 5-4 in a walk-off over the Bulldogs, who were receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll. The pair of wins pushes the 'Pack's win streak to eight straight games, matching its longest win streak of the season.

Game #1: Madison College 10, South Suburban College 9

The day's first game saw the two teams combine for 19 runs, 16 hits, and 11 errors before Madison College hung on late for the win.

South Suburban College plated three runs off Riley Landenberger in the first half inning, but the WolfPack offense came right back to score a half-dozen runs of their own. Two errors and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs and Brooke Heck took advantage, singling to right to drive in two runs. Landenberger helped her own cause with a RBI single to center to tie the game at three. Then sophomore Bailey Kratt hit a ball hard back up the middle that allowed Heck and Landenberger to touch home. The scoring ended after Katelin Gilbertson drove in Kratt on another hard grounder back past the pitcher to make it 6-3.

The score remained unchanged until bottom of the fourth when Madison College added two more. Hannah Jensen scored on a wild pitch and Landenberger netted another run batted in with a groundout to first the drove in Heck.

The Bulldogs cut the WolfPack lead to five with a run in the fifth, and then to just three runs with two more in the sixth. That led to coach Leo Kalinowski bringing Jensen in to the pitching circle to close out the sixth with a fly out to shortstop.

Looking for insurance runs in the sixth, Madison College put two runners in scoring position after a fielder's choice and an Ashley Kniesel double. On the next play, the SSC shortstop committed an error on a ball off the batt of Landenberger that allowed Heck to score the team's tenth run, which proved to be the game-winner.

Two errors, a single, and a triple started the top of the seventh and brought the score to within 10-8. When Jensen uncorked a wild pitch to allow another run to score, Kalinowski turned to freshman Mackenzie Terrill, who promptly struck out her only batter faced with the game-tying run at first. 

Riley Landenberger (7-0) remains unbeaten on the year after being on the hook for two earned runs on three hits in her five-plus innings. She struck out five before Jensen and Terrill came in to finish out the win. Mackenzie Terrill, a native of Milton, Wisconsin, now has two saves this season.

Brooke Heck finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and three batted in.

Game #2: Madison College 5, South Suburban College 4

Madison College needed some late fireworks to get the win in game two after entering the bottom of the seventh trailing 4-2. Ashley Burg singled and Brooke Heck doubled to put runners in scoring position with one out for pinch hitter Katelin Gilbertson. The hot-hitting freshman came through with a single to the left side that scored Burg. Bailey Kratt followed with a single to load the bases for first year infielder Ali Braddock, who tied the game with a run-scoring single and advanced the winning run just 60 feet from home. It set the stage for freshman catcher Emme Hilbert, with two outs, to be the hero, which she was with a single to center the gave the WolfPack a walk-off win.

Trailing 4-0 in the fourth, Madison College dented the scoreboard on one swing as Breanna Bollig hit a two-run home run to left. It was the third homer of the season for the Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, native, pulling her even with two other for the team lead this season.

Ashley Burg went 3-for-4 with a hit for the 'Pack, with Brooke Heck and Ali Braddock also enjoying a multi-hit game. Breanna Bollig was the only player with two RBI.

Emily Wiederholt started the game, but did not factor in the decision. The freshman last 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. Mackenzie Terril stepped in to hold South Suburban College (16-9) scoreless over the final three-plus innings and did not surrender a single hit as the WolfPack improved to 4-2 all-time against the Bulldogs, winning three straight in the series.

Up Next:

Madison College (22-11) will take part in another Region IV Division II doubleheader Sunday against Waubonsee Community College (22-14). The WolfPack trail the all-time series by a 6-8 margin, but have won four of the last six over the past two seasons. First pitch in Sugar Grove, Illinois, is set for 12:00 p.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. start for the finale.

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