CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL. - Playing on the road for the final time in the 2018 regular season, the Madison College baseball team picked up an impressive win after a heartbreaking loss in a doubleheader at McHenry County College on Tuesday, May 1. The Scots, ranked #10 in the NJCAA Division II Poll and with the best record among Region IV Division II teams, earned a 7-6 walk-off win in the opener, however, the WolfPack responded in big way with a 17-2 drubbing of MCC in five innings as freshman Nick Gile produced five runs batted in.

Game #1: #10 McHenry County College 7, Madison College 6 (7 innings)

A scoreless pitcher's duel turned into a late slugfest as two of the top programs in the region went toe-to-toe. Neither starter faced more than four batters through the first 5 1/2 innings, until the Scots finally got to sophomore Jack Eagan in the bottom of the sixth. Two early walks followed by a double put McHenry ahead 2-0, and a two-out single two batters later made it 3-0. After a third walk, Eagan was removed in favor Jon-Anthony Caban, who gave up a three-run homer to put the 'Pack down 6-0.

Madison College, however, had an answer, scoring six runs of their own in the top of the seventh on six hits and two MCC errors. Nick Gile drove in the first run with a double to right and then scored on the second error of the inning. Caban singled in a run to cut the deficit to three. After a McHenry pitching change, sophomore Chase Scharnek lined a double to center to plate two runs and put the tying run in scoring position. The Waukesha, Wisconsin, native would eventually be thrown out at home trying to even the score on a fielder's choice, but a single by Walker Jenkins kept the inning alive and all-region catcher Logan Michaels delivered with a run-scoring single through the left side that drove in Cam Cratic from third.

All square at 6-6, coach Mike Davenport turned to freshman Brandon Komar out of the bullpen. Komar, unfortunately, was unable to record an out, giving up a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk to allow the Scots to walk off with the dramatic win.

Eagan finished with five runs allowed on five hits and four walks in his five-plus innings. The Mississippi State University commit also struck out 12 for his fifth consecutive game with double-digit K's, totalling 57 in just over 30 innings of work. Caban and Komar combined to give up two runs on three hits and two walks in 1/3 inning. 

Michaels and Caban each finished 2 for 3 with a runs scored and one batted in. Gile also produced a run and a RBI with his hit. Scharnek was the third player with two hits for the 'Pack, and drove in a team-high two runs. 

Game #2: Madison College 17, #10 McHenry County College 2 (5 innings)

Possibly fueled by the frustration of the late loss, Madison College (24-15) struck early and often in the nightcap to put the game out of reach before McHenry County College (35-11) knew what hit them. A bases loaded single by Nick Gile got the scoring going with two runs. Fellow freshman Nathan Aide followed suit with a RBI single to make it 3-0 before an error allowed the inning's fourth run to cross home. After WolfPack starter Nate Brown struck out the side in the home half, the 'Pack poured it on in the second. Cam Cratic's first collegiate home run, a two-run shot, made it 6-0 and Gile did the same with his own two-run blast for his fifth of the year and an eight-run advantage. Before the inning ended, Chase Scharnek registered a two-run single to right, Walker Jenkins earned a RBI with a bases loaded hit by pitch, and Logan Michaels doubled in a pair to push the lead to 13-0. Madison College added a four-spot in the fourth for good measure.

The first five batters in the lineup combined for 11 hits, 12 runs, and 11 runs batted in. Gile, a native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, drove in a career-high five runs on 3 for 5 hitting, while also scoring three times. Michaels, a DeForest, Wisconsin, product, also finished with three hits, producing two RBI and three runs scored. Cratic joined the three runs scored club as part of a 2 for 4 effort that resulted in a pair of runs batted in. Scharnek, batting in the eight spot, drove in a career-high four runs and scored another as part of his two-hit performance.

University of Florida transfer and Hartland, Wisconsin, native Nate Brown (3-3) picked up his third consecutive win and established a new career-high with 10 strikeouts. Brown went five innings and allowed two runs, four hits, and two free passes to first as he faced 23 batters.

Winners of three of the last four meetings, the WolfPack are 21-11-1 all-time against the Scots.

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