MADISON, WISC. - A pair of tightly contested games came down the final at-bats as the Madison College baseball team split a Region IV doubleheader against Division I South Suburban College at Robin Roberts Field on Saturday, May 5. The WolfPack twice lost a one-run lead in the opener before freshman Nathan Aide delivered a clutch, walk-off single for a 3-2 victory, but the Bulldogs used a big fourth inning in the nightcap to leave town with a 9-8 decision in the finale. The loss snapped a brief three-game win streak ahead of the final regular season games of the year.

Game #1: Madison College 3, South Suburban College 2 (7 innings)

After leading a runner on third in the first inning, the Madison College bats made sure to take advantage of a run-scoring opportunity in the third inning when they put together a two-out rally. Freshman Cam Cratic's second hit of the game was followed by a stolen base and an advancement to third on an error. A second error on a ball hit by Walker Jenkins allowed Cratic to score. Still 1-0 through four innings, the Bulldogs broke through on a Cratic error in centerfield and two wild pitches to even the score.

Madison College went back in front in the sixth as two more errors by South Suburban College allowed Logan Michaels to reach base and eventually score. The 2-1 advantage was wiped away in the seventh after freshman Brandon Komar entered in relief of sophomore Matt Hamilton and gave up consecutive singles to the first three batters. Looking for some late heroics, the WolfPack got a one-out single from Jenkins, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following Nick Gile's ground out for the second out of the inning, first year outfielder Nathan Aide lined a single to left that allowed Jenkins to score the game-winning run for the walk-off victory.

Aide, a native of Franklin, Wisconsin, drove in two runs in the game and finished with one hit. Cratic and Jerry LaSaint each posted two hit games, with Cratic also scoring once. 

Hamilton, a sophomore Oak Creek, three six innings and allowed just two hits and one unearned run. The righthander also struck out one batter, but did not factor in the decision. Komar (6-2) earned his sixth win in his 14th appearance with his one inning of work, allowing one run on three hits and picking up one K. 

Game #2: South Suburban College 9, Madison College 8 (7 innings)

Both teams found their offensive grooves in the second game, combining for 17 runs and 18 hits. Madison College went ahead 5-1 in the third with four runs. Nathan Aide singled in Walker Jenkins to make it 2-1 before the final three runs of the frame scored via error, walk, and hit by pitch. South Suburban College (35-17-1) answered right back with a six-run top of the fourth, taking advantage of four hits, two free passes to first, one error, and a wild pitch to take a two-run lead. The deficit was immediately wiped away as Aide continued his monstrous day with a two-run homer to left that tied the game 7-7. The home run was his third of the season and first since April 22.

The barrage of runs continued in the fifth when the Bulldogs plated two more against freshman relief pitcher Trentin Uttech and the WolfPack. In the home half of the inning, Madison College produced a run with a hit by pitch of Carl Valk, who made his way around the bases with a wild pitch, a balk, and a run-scoring ground out by Walker Jenkins. Unfortunately, it would be the last run the 'Pack would score as Nick Gile flew out with a man on third to end the fifth and they were unable to move anyone beyond first base in either the sixth or the seventh.

Aide finished as the lone WolfPack batter with more than one hit, going 3 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored. He matched his career-best numbers in hits and runs batted in as part of a four-hit, five-RBI doubleheader against SSC. Five other player recorded a hit, with Gile tying Aide for most runs scored at two each.

Starter Tyler Strzelczyk surrendered seven runs, only three of which were earned, on seven hits, four walks, and two hit batters. He also struck out two. Uttech, a Lake Mills, Wisconsin, native, took the loss to fall to 2-1 on the season after giving up one earned run and another unearned on three hits and four free passes to first. The righthander struck out a pair before turning the game over to sophomore Chase Scharnek for the final batter, who he struck out.

Up Next:

Madison College (28-18) will host Sophomore Day for the final home games of the season against Carl Sandburg College (26-11) on Sunday, May 6. In 12 prior meetings with the Chargers, the 'Pack has just one loss after going 3-1 against CSC last season. Prior to game one, the team will honor its 12-member second year Class of 2018. First pitch is at noon at Robin Roberts Field, with the nightcap to follow at approximately 3:00 p.m.

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