MOLINE, ILL. - The Madison College softball team returned to the diamond for the first time since returning from its annual trip to the Sunshine State and earned a pair of resounding victories over Black Hawk College on Saturday. Despite the 15-day break from play, the #15-ranked WolfPack dominated the Braves with a 9-1 win in six innings, followed by a 16-9 decision in the finale. Pitcher Maddie Fink impressed with ten strikeouts in game one, while catcher Nicole Ferch used a pair of home runs to power a highly-productive day at the plate. The 'Pack has won all eight meetings with BHC since the two programs started playing annually in 2016.

Game #1: #15 Madison College 9, Black Hawk College 1 (6 innings)

While the offense took a while to regain its form, starting pitcher Maddie Fink was dealing right from the outset. The freshman from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, faced the minimum batters through the first three innings before allowing a lead-off single in the fourth. A pair of singles against the righthander in the fifth produced the lone earned run against her, and another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth closed out the victory as she improved to 3-2 on the season. Fink finished with one run on three hits and a career-best ten K's.

Madison College took the game's first lead with a Morgan Dercola sacrifice fly that scored Montana Platts in the second, then made it 2-0 in the third on Irene Tomasovic's run-producing double to center that plated Maegan Brookins. The fourth inning saw the WolfPack really grab control with four runs on five hits and a walk. Sophomore Paige Cornelissen drove in two with a double, which was followed by RBI-singles from Brookins and Platts to make it 6-0. After the Braves notched their only run in the fifth, second year Nicole Ferch put the game out of reach with a three-run bomb to left field. 

Platts registered a 3 for 4 effort with two runs scored and another batted in, and Cornelissen went 3 for 5 with two extra base hits, two RBI, and a run scored. Three other WolfPack batters enjoyed multi-hit games, with Dercola, Paige Hintz, and Tomasovic each posting two hits apiece. Ferch used her lone hit to produce a team-leading three RBI. Madison College finished with 14 hits in the game.

Game #2: #15 Madison College 16, Black Hawk College 9 (7 innings)

The nightcap saw the two programs combine for 25 runs and 36 hits before reaching its conclusion. The WolfPack seized an early 1-0 lead, but then faced their only deficit of the day when Black Hawk College (4-8) plated a pair of runs on three hits against starter Cathryn Hiller. Madison College answered back in a big way with a five-spot in the second. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases, but the Braves recorded two outs with back-to-back plays at the plate. The two-out rally was ignited by a two-run single through the left side by freshman Montana Platts, and followed by a two-run single to right from Dany Gumz, who later scored on a steal of home to make it 6-2. Nicole Ferch's second homer of the day came in the third inning with a two-run blast to center that kickstarted a four-run frame. Platts and Tomasovic also picked up RBI as part of the five-hit inning. The eight run advantage was cut to 10-5 in the third, but the 'Pack got two runs back in the fourth. Morgan Dercola opened the inning with a solo homer to left for her first career home run. The Braves tacked on three runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth, while the WolfPack added another run in the sixth and three in the seventh, including a two-RBI double to complete the day for Ferch.

The Cudahy, Wisconsin, native, was a perfect 3 for 3 with two extra base hits, one walk, two runs scored, and a career-high four runs batted in. Tomasovic, a product of Kimberly, Wisconsin, also registered three hits for the fourth time this season as she extended her hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. She picked up two RBI and a run scored. Platts was 2 for 2 with a walk, and drove in three runs and scored two more. In all, six players hat multiple hits as the 'Pack reached 17 base knocks. Five players scored multiple runs and five drove in two runs or more. 

Hiller (3-1) secured her second straight win after going four innings and giving up five runs on seven hits. The former Random Lake High School athlete struck out four before giving way to fellow first year Brianna Farrington for the final three innings. She surrendered four runs on a dozen hits and one K.

Up Next: 

Madison College (16-6, 3-2) was scheduled to play on Sunday, April 7 at Illinois Valley Community College, however the doubleheader was canceled due to wet conditions. A make-up date has yet to be announced. The WolfPack will return to North Central Community College Conference play with a trip to the College of DuPage (6-19, 0-4) on Thursday, April 11. The two teams played met at the N4C Dome Jamboree in early March, with the 'Pack taking a 16-6 decision to extend their win streak over the Chaparrals to six straight. The all-time series belongs to COD by a 24-15 margin. Game one of the doubleheader in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., followed by an approximate 5:00 p.m. first pitch in the finale.

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