CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Madison College baseball team dropped a pair of one-run, extra-inning games on a neutral field against Iowa Central Community College on Saturday as they opened the 2020 season playing in sub-30-degree temperatures. The WolfPack, originally scheduled to begin their season at the Babe Howard JUCO Classic in Millington, Tennessee, scrambled to schedule a doubleheader at Mount Mercy University against the Tritons late last week after the JUCO Classic was canceled due to weather and field conditions. Iowa Central Community College rallied twice for a 4-3 win in 12 innings in the season-opener, and then picked up a come-from-behind 3-2 decision in eight innings in the day's finale. Madison College is 3-10 all-time against the Tritons, though Saturday's twin-bill was the first meeting since 2007.

Game #1: Iowa Central Community College 4, Madison College 3 (12 Innings)

The 2020 campaign started with a bang for the WolfPack, who took a 2-0 lead in the opening half inning when freshman Jeff Holtz smashed a two-out, two-run home run to left. Sophomore Eliot Turnquist kept the lead as he worked through four scoreless innings. Iowa Central cut the differential in half in the fifth with a run-scoring double to center against relief pitcher Jacob Wilde. Still up a run into the bottom of the seventh, Wilde had the Tritons down to their final out and with two runners on when ICCC singled for the third consecutive batter to even the score and force extra innings. Wilde did strike out the side, including the final batter with the game-winning run on third.

Still even at 2-2 in the 12th, Madison College again used the long ball to put themselves in position to win. Sophomore Jacob Kaiser drilled an 0-1 offering beyond the fence in left, a solo shot that made it 3-2. With first year arm Luke Hansel on the hill, the Tritons once again tied the game on a single and a triple, and then came up with a walk-off, RBI single to left for the win.

The WolfPack finished with just five hits in 44 at bats, seven fewer hits than Iowa Central. Kaiser, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was 2 for 5 with a run scored and one RBI, while Holtz produced two runs batted in and a run scored with his lone hit.

Turnquist, a product of Columbus High School, surrendered just two hits and four walks while striking out eight over four innings. Wilde gave up six hits, two earned runs, and three walks in his four innings on the hill. The Waukesha, Wisconsin, native, finished with seven strikeouts in his collegiate debut. Hansel (0-1) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk with two K's in three-plus innings.

Game #2: Iowa Central Community College 3, Madison College 2 (8 Innings)

For the second straight game, Madison College jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, only to fall in extra innings. Freshman Eli Kramer started the game with a walk and then stole second base, putting him in scoring position when Jeff Holtz reached on an error two batters later and it allowed Kramer to cross home. Holtz advanced to third when Jacob Kaiser singled through the left side, and then a second Tritons error in the inning off a Ryan Hubley grounder brought Holtz in for the two-run lead.

Still a two-run game in the fourth, Iowa Central generated their first run when WolfPack starter Jett Thielke committed an error and threw two wild pitches to set up a sacrifice fly situation. Once again, Madison College had a chance to close out the win in the bottom of the seventh, however, the Tritons used a single and a triple off Thielke in the first two batters to even the score at 2-2. With the game-winning run at third, the freshman was able to work out of a bases loaded jam to send the game to an extra inning. Madison College picked up a hit, but no runs in the top half and turned to first year lefty Adrian Montilva to work the bottom half. The former Madison East High School athlete eventually threw a game-ending wild pitch that sent the Tritons off with another win.

Thielke, a 6'6" righthander from Green Bay, Wisconsin, tossed seven innings in his collegiate debut, striking out an impressive 11 batters and holding ICCC to one earned run on three hits and three walks. Montilva (0-1) was credited with the loss for his 1/3 inning of work that resulted in an unearned run and one hit allowed.

The two teams were each limited to four hits, with the WolfPack being led by Kramer's 2 for 3 effort that produced a run scored. The freshman from Greenville, Wisconsin, also stole three bases in the game.

Up Next:

Madison College (0-2) will conclude its season-opening weekend with a doubleheader at Hearland Community College (0-0) in Bloomington, Illinois. The two teams have played just twice before, with the last meeting coming at the 2012 NJCAA Divison II World Series.

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