CLINTON, MS. - After losing their first game of the tournament, the Madison College softball team focused their attention on staying alive and advancing to Friday. The WolfPack played two elimination games on Thursday, and did just that. They stayed alive with a 10-0 victory over #14 Mercer County Community College (NJ), and followed it up with an exciting and nail biting 5-4 win over #5 Kirkwood Community College (IA).

Game #2 - Thursday, May 17: #11 Madison College 10, #14 Mercer County Community College  0 (6 innings)

The Madison College bats came alive as the WolfPack struck first with a solo home run by Dany Gumz in the top of the fourth inning. The WolfPack added another run in the fifth inning on a two-out triple by Claire Brzenk that scored Paige Cornelissen. The sixth inning broke the game open as Madison College posted a total of eight runs on four hits and one error.



Second year outfielder Claire Brzenk led all batters, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Six of her teammates had one hit and three players, including Dany Gumz, Ali Braddock, and Sam Schloegl each had a RBI. Schloegl had two RBI on a base hit in the sixth inning.

Hannah Wienen (9-2) pitched a gem for the 'Pack. Wienen tossed a six-inning shutout, surrendering just one hit, striking out five, and walking three. She earned her ninth win of the season and the WolfPack won on run-rule in the sixth inning.

Game #3 - Thursday, May 17: #11 Madison College 5, #5 Kirkwood Community College 4 (7 innings)

In the team's second elimination game of the day, the #11 WolfPack faced #5 Kirkwood Community College (IA). The Eagles had beaten Madison College twice before in an early season matchup, but the 'Pack were ready for a fight. After the Eagles scored one run in the first inning, Hannah Grahl answered with a sole shot to centerfield in the bottom half of the inning. With the score tied at 1-1 and two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the WolfPack poured it on, with five base hits and one walk to push the score to 5-1. Kirkwood would make it close, but Alli Walker finished off the Eagles for a 5-4 WolfPack victory.



Nine WolfPack batters recorded a hit while five players, including Sam Schloegl, Hannah Grahl, Katelin Gilbertson, Ashley Kniesel and Ali Braddock each had a RBI.

Allie Walker (15-4) pitched tough and came up big with a complete game effort. Walker scattered eight hits, gave up four earned runs, while striking out two and walking four to earn her fifteenth win of the season.
 
Up Next:

Madison College will play in their third elimination game on Friday, at noon, against #10 Johnson County Community College, from Overland Park, Kansa. The winner will play again at 2:00 p.m. against the loser of the #3 LSU-Eunice versus #2 Jones County Community College (MS) match-up.

2018 NJCAA Division II Softball Championship Information

Scouting Report: A Look at the NJCAA DII Tournament Field

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