ARIZONA - Dramatic conclusion continued to play out on a daily basis as the Madison College baseball team finished out its annual Arizona Spring Trip. Unfortunately, the WolfPack suffered four consecutive losses, three of which were by a run and two in walk-off fashion, to finish their desert experience with a 3-7 record. The first walk-off opened a Tuesday doubleheader at GateWay Community College with a 2-1 loss, followed by a another one-run loss in a 7-6 loss to the Geckos. The final two games featured a 14-4 setback at Paradise Valley Community College and a 4-3 walk-off loss at Central Arizona College to conclude the trip.

Tuesday (3/13) Game #1: GateWay Community College 2, Madison College 1 (7 innings)

A pitch-for-pitch duel between starting pitchers was undone when the Madison College defense committed costly errors in the final two innings against GateWay. Sophomore Jack Eagan scattered two hits and four walks through five innings before finding trouble in the bottom of the sixth. After retiring the first two batters, Eagan issued a walk and the runner advanced to second when second year Tanner Umentum committed an error on a pick-off attempt. Eagan then committed an error of his own on a ball hit back to him that allowed the runner to come around from second and score, giving the Geckos a 1-0 lead.

The WolfPack, who had just one hit and three walks against GateWay pitching entering the seventh, got a leadoff single from freshman Jerry LaSaint, who advanced to second on a Marquis Reuter sacrifice. Two batters later, second year Caleb Hurt drove a single to center to score courtesy runner Carl Valk to even the score.

In the home half of the seventh, freshman and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native Walker Jenkins entered in relief and allowed a lead-off single, though the batter made it all the way to second on an error by right fielder Nathan Aide. Another single put runners in scoring position, and with one out on the board, the game ended when the Geckos looped a single to left to score the winning run.

Jenkins (0-1) took the loss after giving un an unearned run on three hits. Eagan, a native of Wautoma, Wisconsin, and transfer from Indiana University, finished with an unearned run, two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts in six innings of work. Aide, a freshman from Franklin, Wisconsin, led the 'Pack with two of the team's five hits.

Tuesday (3/13) Game #2: GateWay Community College 7, Madison College 6 (7 innings)

The nightcap saw GateWay (15-14) jump out to a half-dozen-run lead in the first inning and the WolfPack nearly battling all the way back before falling by a run. Errors were once again a factor, helping the Geckos plate six runs in the bottom of the first. The home team batted around against starter Tyler Strzelczyk, who surrendered two hits and four walks. The sophomore from Tinley Park, Illinois, was able to work out of a bases loaded jam in the third before being replaced by fellow second year Connor Fedders.

The Madison College rally began in the four when a Carl Valk walk was followed by back-to-back doubles from Nathan Aide and Adam LaRock, the latter bringing Valk and Aide to make it a four-run game. GateWay added what turned out to be a key insurance - and game-winning - run in the home half with a two-out, run-scoring single. Two more runs in the fifth on RBI-singles from Valk and LaRock brought the 'Pack within 7-4. Freshman Jarrett Scheelk roped a double to left in the sixth to score Walker Jenkins and Jordan Olson. However, Valk went down looking with Scheelk in scoring position as the tying run. The WolfPack went 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game.

Strzelczyk (0-1) was on the hook for the loss, as well as one earned run of the six runs allowed. The righthander gave up three hits, issued six free passes, and struck out three. Fedders was credited with one earned run on two hits with a strikeout in his inning of work. Chase Scharnek, a sophomore from Waukesha, Wisconsin, tossed the final two innings of two-hit baseball and registered one K.

Aide and LaRock each finished 2 for 4 to lead the 'Pack offensively. LaRock, a product of Eau Claire North HS, drove in a team-best three runs and Scheelk was right behind with two RBI, while Valk and Olson both crossed home twice.

Wednesday (3/14): Paradise Valley Community College 14, Madison College 4 (7 innings)

The largest loss in terms of run differential of the entire trip came on the penultimate day of games when Paradise Valley (20-9) turned an early four-run deficit into a run-rule victory. The teams combined to commit eight errors in the game, starting with with three in the first half inning by the Pumas. The WolfPack used those miscues, as well as two hits and a pair of walks to plate four first-inning runs. Caleb Hurt's single to right drove in one run and was sandwiched between two walks that also forced in runs. With the bases still loaded and nobody out, Jon-Anthony Caban grounded a fielder's choice ball to the right side the ended with a double play in exchange for the last run.

University of Florida transfer Nate Brown was unable to hold the lead, and didn't get much help behind him. An error by shortstop Walker Jenkins put the lead-off runner aboard, and back-to-back walks packed the sacks. Madison College let a run scored attempting to turn a double-play on the next batter, but another error, this time by second baseman Nick Gile as he attempted to make the turn, brought home a second run. Then a double to left made it 4-3. A walk, two singles, and double early in the second inning gave PVCC their first lead at 5-4, and an error, a wild pitch, and a passed ball made it a four-run deficit. By the end of the third, the 'Pack was staring at a 10-4 hole. The Pumas put the game away early with a four-run seventh against freshmen pitchers Trentin Uttech and Jonathan Dominguez, using three walks, two hit-by-pitches, and a double before a sacrifice fly ended it.

The loss falls on Brown (0-1), his first with Madison College, after lasting less than three innings and giving up two earned run out of ten total allowed. The Hartland, Wisconsin, native was tagged for five hits and three walks, while also striking out six batters. Nolan Rebernick, Uttech, and Dominguez combined to surrender four runs on three hits, six walks, and one strikeout in the final three-plus innings.

Freshman Cam Cratic was the lone bright spot at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a run scored. Three other players recorded a hit.

Friday (3/15): #18 Central Arizona College 4, Madison College 3 (9 innings)

Madison College rallied late and appeared ready to force extra innings in the trip's final game, but the NJCAA Division III and #18-ranked Vaqueros produced some late magic to steal back a walk-off win. Freshman starter Matt Hamilton gave up the game's first run in the second inning after back-to-back hit batters with two outs was followed by a single to right. A second run in the sixth off Hamilton was the result of a lead-off walk, followed by a passed ball, a balk, and a sacrifice fly, which spelled the end of the road for the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, native. Central Arizona (26-5) added a third run in the eighth to make it 3-0.

Facing their final at-bats in the desert, the WolfPack fought back to score three runs in the ninth, and doing so with two outs. Cam Cratic single to left, and was joined on the bases by successive walks to Tanner Umentum and Logan Michaels. A third straight walk forced in the first run, and Adam LaRock's line drive single to center plated two more. Jake Kopp, a sophomore from West Bend, Wisconsin, remained in the game to work the ninth and try to push the game into extra innings. A single, walk, and passed ball put runners in scoring position with nobody out, but after recording a ground out, Kopp gave up a ground ball single right back up the middle to end the game.

Kopp (0-1) took the loss with two runs allowed, one of which was earned, in less than an inning of work. He gave up four hits and one walk, and struck out one. Hamilton posted 5 1/3 innings with two hits and two earned runs, to go along with four walks and six K's. Freshman Brandon Komar worked two-plus innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts and two hits. 

Umentum and Michaels were the only WolfPack players with multiple hits as each went 2 for 4 with a run scored. LaRock was 1 for 5 with two runs batted in. 

Up Next:

Madison College (3-7), which flew back to Wisconsin late Thursday night, will be off until a road doubleheader at NJCAA Division I Kishwaukee College (9-5) on Thursday, March 22 in Malta, Illinois. The WolfPack are 31-21-1 all-time against the Kougars, including a sweep of four meetings last season. Game one starts at 2:00 p.m.

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