ROCKFORD, WISC. - An opportunity to gain some ground on North Central Community College Conference frontrunner Rock Valley College passed right by the Madison College softball team as they were swept in a road doubleheader by scores of 10-5 and 8-0 on Thursday. The WolfPack, ranked #11 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, have lost all three matchups against the Golden Eagles, ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division III Poll, this season, and are now 16-34 all-time against the five-time defending national champs.

Game #1: #1 Rock Valley College 10, #11 Madison College 5 (7 innings)

The WolfPack fell into a deep hole early as Rock Valley College tallied eight runs over the first two innings. The opening frame saw the home team notch five runs on five hits, including a three-run homer, and an error against starter Jordan Martin. The freshman was then replaced by fellow first year Cathryn Hiller, who issued three walks and allowed two hits as part of a three-run second inning. Madison College cut the deficit to six with two runs in the fourth. A trio of singles loaded the bases with one out ahead of Nicole Ferch's fielder's choice ground ball that plated the first run. A successful double-steal accounted for the second as Dany Gumz raced in from third. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles answered back with two runs of their own, with both coming across on the same double to right field. The 'Pack avoided a run-rule decision by putting up three more runs in the top of the fifth. Freshman outfielder Irene Tomasovic continued her hot hitting with a bases-clearing triple to bring the score to 10-5. She would be stranded at third, and the WolfPack would manage just one base runner over the final two innings. 

Sophomores Maegan Brookins and Dany Gumz accounted for four of the eight Madison College hits, with each picking up two. Gumz scored a team-high two runs, while Brookins touched home once. Tomasovic's three RBI was tops for the WolfPack and moved her past Gumz for the team-lead in that category on the season. 

Martin, who was appearing in just her second game since returning from injury, was credited with four earned runs on five hits and recorded one strikeout. Hiller, a former Random Lake High School athlete, fell to 3-3 on the season after surrendering five earned runs on four hits and five walk, while also getting one K.

Game #2: #1 Rock Valley College 8, #11 Madison College 0 (5 innings)

The nightcap saw the WolfPack held to less than five hits for just the third time this season. Meanwhile, Rock Valley College (33-9, 9-0) was held scoreless in the first by starter Cathryn Hiller, and then plated two runs in the second and three in the third off first year righthander Brianna Farrington. In the fourth, Madison College had their best opportunity to get on the scoreboard when a pair of walks and an error loaded the bases with two outs, but freshman Kaela Kraemer's drive to center field was caught to end the threat. Farrington was tagged for three more runs in the fifth to end the game in a run-rule walk-off.

Farrington (6-2) worked three-plus innings en route to the loss. The native of Columbus, Wisconsin, was credited for eight runs, only five of which were earned, on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Maegan Brookins, a former Poynette High School athlete, was 2 for 3 to lead the offensive attack. Paige Cornelissen and Paige Hintz had the other two hits.

The loss drops the 'Pack to 6-5 in league play, four games back of RVC and tied with Triton College for second in the N4C standings. 

Up Next: 

Madison College (21-9) is back home at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field on Friday, April 19 for a pair of games against Region IV foe Carl Sandburg College (20-18). The WolfPack is 8-3 all-time against the Chargers, with a five-game win streak in the head-to-head series. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m., with the finale scheduled for an approximate 4:00 p.m. start.

All home Madison College softball games can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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