GALESBURG, ILL. - An season-high eight-game win streak came to a close on Sunday despite the Madison College baseball team racking up 25 runs and 32 hits during a doubleheader split at Region IV foe Carl Sandburg College. The WolfPack crushed three homers and amassed a season-best 20 hits in the opener, but failed to complete a seventh-inning comeback in taking a 14-13 loss. The bats remained hot into the finale and saw the 'Pack leave with a 12-2 victory in six innings to improve to 13-3 all-time against the Chargers.

Game #1: Carl Sandburg College 14, Madison College 13 (7 innings)

A first inning grand slam quickly established what type of game the WolfPack and Chargers were in for. Following a walk, a hit by pitch, and a single, sophomore Adam LaRock added to his team-leading home run total with a smash over the right field wall that put road team up 4-0 before a single out had been recorded. Cam Cratic followed with a double and eventually scored on Lucas Trebian's single to stake Madison College to a 5-0 lead. Against second year starter Jarrett Scheelk, Carl Sandburg College chipped away with a pair of runs in the first, second, and third innings to tie the game at 6-6.

Freshman Luke Malmanger singled in Cratic, then raced home ahead of Trebian when Carl Valk singled through the right side as the 'Pack regained a three-run edge at 9-6 in the fourth. The Chargers continued to answer the bell, scoring three runs on four hits off freshman reliever Taylor Jansen in the bottom of the fourth for a 9-9 tally. After both teams scored a run in the fifth, Carl Sanburg returned the favor with a grand slam to left in the six, making it 14-10 as the WolfPack arrived to their final at-bats. Nick Gile led off with a single to left, and two batters later, Nathan Aide belted a round-tripper to right  to cut the deficit in half. Cratic, a former Madison East High School athlete, made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot to center for a one-run game and still just one out. However, a fly out and strikeout would end the game

All nine batters in the WolfPack lineup picked up a hit, with seven earning multiple hits. Gile led all batters with a career-high four base knocks and scored three runs. Cratic finished 3 for 5 with a run batted in and matched Gile for the team lead with three runs scored. LaRock's lone hit drove in a team-best four runs and marked his four home run of the season, with all coming in the last nine games. Aide and Valk each posted two hits and one run, with Aide driving three and Valk bringing home two. Walker Jenkins, Lucas Trebian, and Carson Holin also had two hits in the game. 

Jansen, a product of Sun Prairie High School, took the loss in relief, falling to 1-2 on the season. He surrendered six runs on seven hits, four walks, and two hit batters in his three innings on the hill. The righty also struck out three batters. Scheelk lasted two innings and was on the hook for six runs, four hits, seven walks, and two K's. Freshman Connor Jasurda worked the sixth inning and tagged for a pair of runs on two hits and a walk. 

Game #2: Madison College 12, Carl Sandburg College 2 (6 innings)

Game two took a couple innings before Madison College bats continued their assault on Chargers pitching, as a four-run third inning broke open a scoreless game. Nick Gile doubled in a run to begin the scoring surge, and then scored when Jarrett Scheelk singled up the middle. A sacrifice fly by Lucas Trebian plated Scheelk and a wild pitch allowed Nathan Aide to race in to score for a 4-0 edge. Carl Sanburg College (11-8-1) got a run back in the home half, but Madison College answered with another four-spot in the fourth. Once again Gile, a native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, got it started with a RBI-double to take advantage of a Chargers error in the prior at-bat, and eventually scored on a bunt sacrifice by Aide. Sophomore Marquis Reuter, playing in his second game of the season, then blasted a two-run homer to right for his second long ball in as many games to give the 'Pack an 8-0 advantage. A third inning with four runs in the sixth allowed the WolfPack to close out the win early. Three consecutive doubles to open the inning from Gile, Scheelk, and Aide scored two runs, and freshman Derek Lee capped the day's offensive explosion with a two-run single to make it 12-2. 

Gile finished 3 for 4 with all three hits coming in the form of a double, helping the second year infielder scored three runs and drive in two more. Scheelk, an alum of Green Bay Preble High School, matched Gile with a 3 for 3 effort that also produced three runs scored and two batted in. Aide and Valk each finished with two hits, while Aide and Lee joined the two-RBI club.

Not to be overshadowed, freshman starter Carl Renz (2-0) struck out a career-high nine batters en route to the win. He worked five innings and limited the Chargers to two runs on five hits and a pair of walks in just his third appearance of the year. Fellow first year Jackson Brown threw a scoreless sixth inning with one hit and one strikeout out of the bullpen.

Up Next:

Madison College (12-7, 2-0) jumps back into North Central Community College Conference play with a doubleheader showdown at in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (10-10, 0-0) on Tuesday, April 9. The WolfPack have dominated the Stormers, winning 91 of 109 all-time meetings, however, the teams split their lone meeting last year in Madison. The latest installment of the long-standing rivalry will get underway at 2:00 p.m. in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, with game two schedule for approximately 5:00 p.m.

Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook | Twitter | GameChanger