CLERMONT & LEESBURG, FLORIDA - The greatest start to a season in Madison College softball history began with six wins outside Chicago and continued with six more wins in the Sunshine State until the undefeated start to the 2018 season came to an end Monday. The #14-ranked WolfPack earned lopsided wins in their first four games of the annual Florida Spring Trip, taking down Glen Oaks Community College (MI) in a 15-4 win to open the trip on Friday, March 9, and followed with routs of 14-2 over Anderson University (IN) JV and 10-1 against Ancilla College (IN) in a Saturday doubleheader. Sunday's twin bill began with a 10-4 drubbing of Iowa Lake Community College, before the competition began to catch up in a 5-2 victory against Marshalltown Community College (IA). Monday's action featured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Mott Community College (MI) to reach 12 straight wins to open the season before Jackson Community College (MI) handed Madison College its first loss of the season with a 9-1 decision.

Friday (3/9): Madison College 15, Glen Oaks Community College (MI) 4 (5 innings)

The WolfPack arrived in Florida to find their bats were still red hot under the southern sun, producing 15 runs in the first four innings of action. Freshman Hannah Grahl doubled in fellow first year Paige Cornelissen to open the scoring, which was followed two batters later by a RBI single from sophomore Riley Landenberger to make it 2-0 in the first. They added three more runs in the second, highlighted by freshman Morgyn DeLara's two-run single to right.

The differential more than doubled to 12-0 in the third inning as Madison College sent 11 batters to the plate. Sophomores Ali Braddock, Katelin Gilbertson, and Bre Feiler opened the inning with consecutive singles to resume the scoring, which also included another run-scoring single from DeLara. In the fourth, Kylie Endres sent a 1-0 offering over the centerfield wall for a two-run homer, her second of the season, that keyed a three-run inning. Despite a three-run homer as part of a four-run fourth inning for the Vikings (1-5), the 'Pack closed out the game in five innings. 

Ten different players registered a hit for Madison College, led by a 2 for 3 effort from DeLara. The former Delavan-Darien HS athlete scored a run and drove in a season-high three runs. Cornelissen scored a game-high three runs despite not recording a single hit. Grahl finished with a hit, two runs scored, and two batted in.

In the circle, Landenberger (2-0) secured her second win with four strong innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. 

Saturday (3/10) Game #1: Madison College 14, Anderson University (IN) JV 2 (6 innings)

The WolfPack jumped out to a big lead once again with five runs in the first two innings, with four of the runs coming in the second. Back-to-back doubles by freshmen Brittany Bredemann and Maddie Krafcheck produced the first run. After a Sam Schloegl bunt single, sophomore Claire Brzenk singled in both Krafcheck and Schloegl to make it 4-0. The final tally came when Brzenk raced home on a wild pitch.

With a 5-1 advantage through five innings, Madison College put the game out of reach with a nine-spot in the sixth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate. The 'Pack accumulated ten hits, three of which went for extra bases. The first four batters all reached on a double and three singles to plate two runs. Then, with two outs on the board, lightning struck twice with back-to-back home runs to centerfield. Krafcheck smashed the first, sending the first offering of the at-bat over the wall for a two-run blast. That prompted a pitching and batting change, and freshman Dany Gumz stepped in to crush the solo homer for a 12-1 differential. Run-scoring singles from Paige Cornelissen and Nicole Ferch pushed the lead to 13 runs.

First year Alli Walker (3-0) spun five innings of one-run ball with five hits allowed and five strikeouts recorded to earn her third consecutive win. Sophomore Mackenzie Terrill worked the sixth inning with one earned run, one hit allowed, one walk issued, two hit batters, and one strikeout.

Five players registered multiple hits for the WolfPack, led by three-hit games from Schloegl and Bredemann. Schloegle, a Wilmot, Wisconsin, native, scored a season-high four runs and Krafcheck drove in a season-best four runs.

Saturday (3/10) Game #2: Madison College 10, Ancilla College (IN) 1 (5 innings)

A third consecutive run-rule win capped the first full day of games in Florida, with Madison College using a seven-run fourth inning to finish it off. Following a scoreless first inning, the WolfPack jumped out in front thanks to the bat and hustle of Ali Braddock. The sophomore infielder drove a triple to right to score fellow second year Katelin Gilbertson, and continued to race around third and beat the throw in to make it 2-0.

The 'Pack added another run in the third to keep momentum into the big offensive outburst. With the bases loaded, Madison College took full advantage of an error, two walks, and a sacrifice fly over the next four batters to push the lead to 7-0. Sophomore and Waterloo, Wisconsin, native Ashley Kniesel roped a two-RBI double to center and scored on a throwing error during the play to make it 10-0.

The game was called after five despite Ancilla (0-6) scoring their lone run in the bottom half, spoiling Hannah Wienen's shutout bid. The second year righthander struck out ten batters and allowed just one run on three hits over her five innings to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Ali Braddock, a former Divine Savior Holy Angels HS athlete, enjoyed her best offensive performance of the season, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kniesel and Cornelissen also drove in a pair, while freshman Olivia Bancroft-Hart matched Braddock for team-high honors with two runs scored.

Sunday (3/11) Game #1: Madison College 10, Iowa Lakes Community College 4 (7 innings)

The final lopsided win came against Iowa Lakes Community College (3-4) as the result of a pair of four-run innings, and pushed the season-opening win streak into double-digits. Scoreless through three frames, Madison College struck in the top of the fourth with the first of several productive hits by sophomore Katelin Gilbertson. The Onalaska, Wisconsin, native single to center for the third base knock to start to inning, driving in a pair of runs. Two batters later, freshman Brittany Bredemann double to center and brought home two more runs.

Gilbertson's next at-bat came in the fifth with one on and two outs, and she blasted a 1-0 pitch clear over the left field wall to boost the lead to 6-0. It's her second homer of the season. The Lakers got those two runs back in the fifth, and trimmed the differential to three in the sixth. But in the top of the seventh, the WolfPack found separation again. It started with a Dany Gumz singling up the middle to drive in Ashley Kniesel. Gilbertson, who walked earlier in the inning, scored on Claire Brzenk's ground out on the right side. Then Sam Schloegl and Paige Cornelissen placed a pair of hard ground balls through the infield to drive in one run each for a 10-3 advantage. 

Gilbertson finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and matching a career-best with four runs batted in. Schloegl and Bredemann also had two hits, while Kniesel and Bre Feiler each posted two runs scored.

Alli Walker made it four straight wins to start her collegiate career, going five innings without allowing an earned run. She gave up three hits, walked two batters, and turned away six. Mackenzie Terrill worked two innings in relief, and gave up one earned run on three hits, a walk, and three K's.

Sunday (3/11) Game #2: Madison College 5, Marshalltown Community College (IA) 2 (7 innings)

Win number 11 to open the season required a little more fight to take down the NJCAA Division I Tigers. As per usual, the 'Pack was able to work from an early lead when Claire Brzenk raced from third to home on a Hannah Grahl double in the first inning. Madison College extended their advantage to 5-0 in the third inning. Grahl, a former Laconia HS standout, ripped a single down the third base line to plate Ashley Burg, who opened the inning with a walk. Dany Gumz drove in Schloegl with a sac fly just ahead of Kylie Endres' two-RBI hit to center.

Sophomore Riley Landenberger returned to the circle for the sixth working on a one-hitter, but gave up a leadoff home run and a RBI single five batters later that brought MCC within three and her day to a close. Hannah Wienen entered to close out the sixth and toss a perfect seventh for her first save of the season, allowing just one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Landenberger (3-0) earned the win after 5 2/3 innings with two earned runs on four hits and four walks. The Roscoe, Illinois, native struck out six batters for the third consecutive game.

Grahl finished as the only player with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored. She has 14 hits in her first 24 at bats (.583). Endres also drove in a pair, matching a season-high. 

Monday (3/12) Game #1: Madison College 4, Mott Community College (MI) 3 (7 innings)

The final win of the record setting start to the 2018 season required some late heroics on offense and defense to get by the Bears. Second year righthander and Milton, Wisconsin, native, Mackenzie Terrill stood toe-to-toe with Mott's Adrianna Hammer, with Terrill having the luxury of working with the lead. It was not a big one as the WolfPack scratched across a single run in the second. Ashley Kniesel drew a lead off walk, advanced to third on Katelin Gilbertson's double to left, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Brittany Bredemann.

Still leading 1-0 entering the seventh, Madison College added some insurance runs. With two runners on, a MCC error and a Paige Cornelissen single each brought a run home. A second error in the inning allowed a third run to cross for a four-run advantage, which turned out to be just enough. Terrill walked the first two batters in the bottom half of the frame and was pulled for Alli Walker. The freshman loaded the bases with a third walk, and proceeded to watch runners touch home on a sac fly, a passed ball, and a double steal. Clinging to a one-run lead, Walker and the WolfPack finally secured the last out with a ground ball to third baseman Brittany Bredemann, who made the throw across the diamond to end the rally.

Terrill (2-0) was credited with two earned runs on four hits, with four bases on balls, and two strikeouts in six strong innings. Walker tallied her first save despite the earned run and two hits in 2/3 innings.

Five different players recorded hits for the 'Pack, with Bredemann, Gumz, and Cornelissen each picking up a RBI. 

Monday (3/12) Game #2: Jackson Community College (MI) 9, Madison College 1 (5 innings)

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and such was the case with Monday's doubleheader finale when Madison College's 12-game season-opening win streak was halted by the Jets (5-1). Starter Hannah Wienen (2-1) was touched up for nine runs, though only two were earned as the result of a season-worst four errors by the WolfPack. The sophomore allowed six hits in four-plus innings in the circle, with one strikeout.

The Jets scored twice in the first inning and added four more in the third before Madison College dented the scoreboard with a Dany Gumz solo home run in the fourth inning, her team-leading third long ball of the season. Still within five, JCC pulled away for good with a three-run fifth to earn the run-rule victory.

Freshmen Sam Schloegl and Kylie Endres were the only other WolfPack batters to record a hit. Madison College hitters struck out a season-worst eight times.

Up Next:

Madison College (12-1) will enjoy an off day on Tuesday before continuing the rest of its Florida Spring Trip with six more games over three days. The WolfPack will play South Suburban College (9-3) at 11:30 a.m. CST Wednesday, March 14, followed by a 1:30 p.m. first pitch against NJCAA Division III Dakota County Technical College (MN/0-0). Both games will be played in Leesburg, Florida, as will both games on Thursday, March 15, which begins with a second meeting with Iowa Lakes Community College and the first of two games in two days with St. Clair County Community College (MI/0-0). The trip concludes Friday with repeat contests against South Suburban College and St. Clair County Community College.

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