MADISON, WISC. - Freshman pinch hitter Kyrsten George came through with a walk-off single to right that gave the Madison College softball team a North Central Community College Conference doubleheader sweep of Triton College on Tuesday at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field, avenging an early season loss at the N4C Dome Jamboree. The WolfPack, who moved up to #11 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, technically earned two walk-off wins after Paige Hintz's ground ball led to an error that allowed two runs to score for an 11-3 run-rule victory in six innings to open the twin bill, which was followed by a two-run final inning in the nightcap to secure a 5-4 decision. The 'Pack avoided a second consecutive N4C split and now own a 21-11 lead in the all-time series with the Trojans.

Game #1: #11 Madison College 11, Triton College 3 (6 innings)

With no score through two innings, both teams finally put some runs on the board in the third. Triton College got it started with a solo home run off WolfPack starter Maddie Fink, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive scoreless innings for the freshman. The Trojans added another after Fink walked three consecutive batters to force in a run, but the Madison College offense had her back. Maegan Brookins dropped a perfect bunt to bring in Morgan Dercola and safely reach first. Two batters later, Irene Tomasovic cleared a bases loaded situation with a double to the wall in center for a 4-2 advantage. The Trojans got one back in the top of the fourth, but again the 'Pack answered with two runs of their own. Dercola ripped a RBI double to left and then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3. In the home half of the sixth, Madison College again loaded the bases with one out and Brookins took advantage with a two-run single through the left side that was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing another run to cross home. A single and an error later in the inning packed the sacks one last time, and freshman Paige Hintz made the win official with a grounder up the middle that was bobbled by the second baseman and saw two runs race in for the run-rule decision.

Tomasovic, who saw her 14-game hitting streak come to an end Monday against the College of DuPage, paced the offensive attack with a 3 for 4 effort that gives the freshman from Kimberly, Wisconsin, five three-hit games on the season. She drove in three runs and scored another, matching the output of Brookins. The sophomore outfielder used her two hits to register three RBI and a run. Dercola, a first year designated player from Sussex, Wisconsin, set a new season-high with three runs scored, while also driving in one. Sophomores Hannah Grahl and Dany Gumz also touched home multiple times. Of the WolfPack's 11 hits, four went for extra bases.

Fink (6-2) went the distance to pick up her fourth straight win. She was on the hook for three runs, two of which were earned, four hits, six walks, and four strikeouts.

Game #2: #11 Madison College 5, Triton College 4 (7 innings)

Game two featured a few more sweaty palms as the WolfPack fell behind 3-0 in the fifth inning. Madison College answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half on RBI base hits from Maegan Brookins and Dany Gumz. Triton College (18-17, 4-5) made it 4-2 with another run in the sixth. Sophomore Nicole Ferch trimmed the deficit to one with a pinch hit single to right that scored Montana Platts and set the stage for a memorable finish. Following a 1-2-3 top of the seventh by Brianna Farrington, Madison College opened the bottom half with singles from Gumz, Morgan Dercola, and Paige Hintz to load the bases with no outs. Second year shortstop Hannah Grahl hit a sacrifice fly to right, tying the game with Gumz scoring and allowing Dercola to advance. Kyrsten George then entered as a pinch hitter and came up with the game-winning single.



Gumz, a native of Marshall, Wisconsin, was the lone player with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Brookins, a product of Poynette High School, also had a run and a RBI as one of six other players to register a hit. George's RBI is her fifth of the season and first since the team returned from their annual Florida Spring Trip.

Freshman Jordan Martin returned to the circle for the first time since a March 21 start in the Sunshine State as she battled injury. The Hortonville, Wisconsin, native, worked four-plus innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Martin retired seven of her 21 batters faced via strikeout. Farrington, another first year righthander, took over in the fifth and tossed the final two and a third innings for the win, improving to 6-1 on the year. She was credited with on unearned run, one hit, and two walks. Farrington, Martin, and Fink are all tied for the team lead in wins with six.

Up Next: 

Madison College (21-7, 6-3) will take a day off on Wednesday after playing six games in four days, and will travel to five-time defending N4C champion Rock Valley College (29-9, 7-0) on Thursday, April 18. The Golden Eagles, ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division III Poll after five consecutive national titles, defeated the WolfPack by an 11-3 margin in the season opener at the N4C Dome Jamboree and now own a 34-16 all-time record against the 'Pack. First pitch in Rockford, Illinois, is slated for 3:00 p.m., followed by an approximate 5:00 p.m start in the finale. 

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