BLOOMINGTON, ILL. - After failing to close out potential wins one day earlier, the Madison College baseball team was able to notch its first win of the season Sunday during a doubleheader split with Heartland Community College, ranked #20 in the NJCAA Division II Poll. The WolfPack took advantage of five Hawks errors and two wild pitches to win the opener 4-1, however, the 'Pack dropped a 4-3 contest in the nightcap to mark its third one-run loss in the season's first four games. The two programs have split their four all-time meetings, and Sunday's twin bill was the first get-together since the two met in the NJCAA Division II World Series in 2012.

Game #1: Madison College 4, Heartland Community College 1 (7 innings)

A pitcher's duel for four innings was broken up when the WolfPack plated four runs in the top of the fifth thanks one hit, four free passes, one error, and two wild pitches. With the bases loaded and one out, Madison College attempted to force in the first run, however, Ryan Hubley was thrown out at home on a play in the infield. A wild pitch to the next batter did produce the game's first run, and a wild pitch during the subsequent at bat made it 2-0. Freshman Nathan Ebersole picked up his career RBI with a single to left that plated Maquire Fitzgerald. The big inning was capped with a rare steal of home by first year outfielder Eli Kramer, who already has five stolen bases in as many attempts through the season's first four games. The lead remained at four until the final at-bats for the Hawks, who took advantage of a two-out error to tally their lone run.

Sophomore lefthander Andy Neu (1-0) earned his first win of the season after tossing four-and-one-third innings of shutout baseball. The Kewaskum, Wisconsin, native allowed four hits, walked two batter, and struck out three before giving way to freshman Riley LeTourneau. The righthander from Brookfield East High School worked 2.2 innings and was tagged for one earned run on one hit, one walk, and four K's.

Offensively, the WolfPack registered only three hits and four walks. Ebersole, a native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, was 2 for 3, while fellow freshman Logan Mantz tallied the other base knock after taking over for Luke Malmanger at third base. Malmanger, Kramer, Pierson Gibis, and Fitzgerald each had a run scored.

Game #2: Heartland Community College 4, Madison College 3 (7 innings)

Game two also started slow, with neither team scoring in the first three innings. Both put at least one run on the board in the fourth, with Madison College taking a 2-0 lead in the top half. First year infielder Logan Mantz went yard on the second pitch of the inning to make it a 1-0 game with the first career home run for the former Slinger High School athlete. Jeff Holtz followed with a single, and three batters later, scored from third on a ground out to the right side. Heartland Community College (1-1)  got one back in the bottom half with back-to-back hits.

The advantage returned to two in the fifth as Holtz single through the left side to drive in Nathan Ebersole from second with two outs. The game turned in the bottom of the sixth as the Hawks tallied three runs to grab a 4-3 lead. New pitcher Alex Redman gave up consecutive solo home runs to the first two batters he faced to even the score and prompt another pitching change. Sophomore Trentin Uttech then forced in the game's winning run with three walks and a hit by pitch. Madison College did get a runner into scoring position in the top of the 7th, but failed to drive him in.

Holtz finished 2 for 2 with a run scored and one batted in, while Mantz picked up the team's only other hit as part of a performance that produced a run scored and a RBI.

Starter Brandon Konitzer was solid over his five innings on the hill. The sophomore righthander from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, struck out four in addition to allowing one earned run on three hits and a walk. The loss fell to Uttech (0-1), who combined with Redman and Jack McNeil to give up three earned runs on two hits and three walks over one inning.

Up Next:

Madison College (1-3) will next take the field on Thursday, March 12 when they begin their annual Arizona Spring Trip with a doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (9-10). The WolfPack are scheduled to play nine games from March 12-19.

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