PALOS HILLS, ILL. - With freshman Matt Hamilton on the bump and an offense providing plenty of run support, the Madison College baseball team opened Sunday's doubleheader at Moraine Valley Community College with a 15-0 dismantling of the Cyclones, who then rallied for a 7-6 walk-off win in extra innings in the nightcap. The WolfPack reached double-digit runs in the opener for the third time this season, going 2-1 in those games, before suffering their eighth one-run loss and the fifth coming in walk-off fashion.

Game #1: Madison College 15, Moraine Valley Community College 0 (6 innings)

With a runner on third and just one out in the bottom of the first, righthanded starter Matt Hamilton (2-0) recorded his first strike out and a ground out to end the biggest scoring threat the Cyclones would put together. The Oak Creek, Wisconsin, native allowed four hits, issued one walk, and hit two batters, but took advantage of five strikeouts some solid defense behind him to hold Moraine Valley without a run over the game's six innings. The scoreless effort drops Hamilton's ERA down to 2.08 over 17-plus innings in three starts this season.

Hamilton was already backed by a 1-0 lead when he toed the rubber for the first time as the WolfPack scored the game's first run in the top half of the first. With runners at second and third with one out, freshman Nathan Aide hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed fellow first year Jerry LaSaint to tag up and score. In the second, back-to-back singles by Chase Scharnek and Marquis Reuter set up another sacrifice, this time a bunt to the right side by Tanner Umentum to make it 2-0. Madison College made it 4-0 in the third on Garrett McGraw's two-run single to left that scored LaSaint and Logan Michaels.

A four-run fifth inning truly broke the game open for the 'Pack, which took advantage of two hits, two bases on balls, one hit batter, two steals, and one wild pitch. Reuter and LaSaint registered the hits, driving in one and two runs, respectively. Madison College put the game away with another crooked inning, scoring seven runs in a sixth inning that featured a dozen batters. A pair of walks and hits intertwined produced the first run as Scharnek took the stroll to first to force in Aide. Reuter's sac fly produced a second run, and a MVCC error created the third. LaSaint's single to center made it a 12-0 game, and after the Cyclones' third and final error tacked on another run. freshman Walker Jenkins capped the season's largest win with a two-RBI double up the middle.

LaSaint, a native of Frisco, Texas, established new season-high totals with a 2 for 4 effort, three runs scored, and three batted in. Former Sun Prairie HS standout Marquis Reuter was the only other player with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored. Scharnek, a sophomore, tied LaSaint for the team lead in runs scored with three.

Game #2: Moraine Valley Community College 7, Madison College 6 (8 innings)

Game two saw Moraine Valley (7-9/7-2 in Region IV) erase a 4-1 deficit with a four-run fifth inning, before earning dramatic win in extras. Trailing 5-4 entering the sixth, Madison College pulled back to even when two singles and an error moved sophomore Tanner Umentum to third and Logan Michaels' grounder to the left side allowed him to score. The Cyclones answered with a double and single in the bottom half to regain a one-run advantage. In need of a run, the 'Pack got one as Nathan Aide's single to left, the third consecutive in the frame, pushed Jerry LaSaint across home to make it 6-6. Freshman Brandon Komar pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to force extra innings, which opened with the WolfPack putting a pair of runners on base with one out, but leaving them stranded.

Komar returned for the eighth inning and had two outs recorded when an error by LaSaint at first base put a runner aboard, and the freshman from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, proceeded to walk each of the next three batters and force in the game-winning run in a literal walk-off ending.

Despite not giving up a hit and striking out four in 1 2/3 innings, the loss falls on Komar (1-1) after allowing the one unearned run on three walks. Second year starter Tyler Strzelczyk went four innings and surrendered an unearned run and two hits with two walks and three K's. Sophomore Jake Kopp struggled in the fifth inning as he faced seven batters and gave up four run on four hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Jonathan Dominguez tossed 1 1/3 innings with three hits and an earned run.

The WolfPack reached ten hits for the second consecutive game, led by Jon-Anthony Caban's 2 for 4 day. The sophomore from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joined Logan Michaels and Jarrett Scheelk with a run scored and one driven in each. Denmark, Wisconsin, native Tanner Umentum crossed home a team-high two times.

Up Next:

Madison College (5-9/2-2 in Region IV) takes on Waubonsee Community College (12-4), which is currently ranked #9 in the NJCAA Division III Poll, on Thursday, March 29. The WolfPack and Chiefs have not played since 2014, and have played 20 of their 22 all-time meetings away from Madison, which will be the case when the 'Pack puts a 12-10 series lead on the line in Sugar Grove, Illinois. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2:00 p.m., with game two to follow at approximately 5:00 p.m.

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