MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - Once the shine of the upcoming experience of playing two games inside the enormous US Bank Stadium wore off, the Madison College baseball team worked to a split of a doubleheader with Dakota County Technical College (MN) on Monday. The WolfPack, who are receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Poll, were unable to hold an early lead or rally late in a 3-2 loss in the opener, but recovered to shut down the Blue Knights' bats in a 3-0 victory. The split puts the all-time series at 3-2 in favor of Madison College.

Game #1: Dakota County Technical College 3, Madison College 2 (7 innings)

For the third consecutive game, Madison College scored the game's first run as freshman Zach Storbakken continues to make a name for himself at the plate. With a runner on second thanks to an error and a sacrifice, Storbakken drove a double to center to score Brady Jurgella. 

The 1-0 lead held until the bottom of the fourth when Dakota County followed a one-out walk with a home run to left to take a 2-1 advantage. The Blue Knights added one more run in the fifth on two walks and a single. 

The WolfPack pulled within a run at 3-2 in the sixth when Spencer Bartel hit a groundball to first with the bases loaded that drove in Kameron Laskowski. In the next at bat and with the tying run 90 feet from home, freshman Ryan Hubley flew out to left. Madison College again had the bases loaded with two outs after a walk, a single, and a hit by pitch, which brought the teams most productive bat to the plate. However, Storbakken grounded an 0-1 pitch into a fielder's choice out at third to end the game.

Laskowski, a first year catcher from Sussex, Wisconsin, was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored to lead the 'Pack at the plate.

On the hill, lefthander Reagan Klawiter (0-1) took the loss in relief after surrendering two earned runs on a hit and three walks while striking out three. Starter Riley LeTourneau was credited with one hit allowed, one walk issued, and one strikeout in his two innings. Taylor Jansen and Charlie Campbell each tossed an inning, with Jansen giving up a run on a hit and two walks, and Campbell keeping the opposition off the bases and picking up a K.

Game #2: Madison College 3, Dakota County Technical College 0 (7 innings)

The finale saw Madison College dominate from the pitcher's mound with four different arms combining to allow just two hits, two walks, and one hit by pitch in the teams second shutout win in four games. Former Madison East HS athlete Adrian Montilva opened the game with three hitless innings of work and striking out six in his collegiate debut. Jack McNeil (1-0) replaced Montilva and used his first-ever college appearance to earn a win. The Madison, Wisconsin, native and Edgewood HS product gave up one hit and struck out four in facing the minimum batters. Alex Redman and Carson Fluno entered for the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, and continued to keep Dakota County off the board. Redman had a hit allowed and a pair of K's, while Fluno (S, 1) walked one of the three batters he faced en route to his first career save.

At the plate, the WolfPack was kept off the board until the fourth inning. Eduardo Saucedo opened the frame with a line drive single to center, and after a pitching change, Brady Jurgella hit a fly ball that led to an error and a run. The differential was increased to 3-0 in the fifth on a two-run inside-the-park home run for Zach Storbakken that brought home Gunnar Doyle.

Storbakken is batting .357 with a team-best five hits, seven RBI, and three runs scored through four games. He was one of six Madison College batters to register a hit in the win, led by Doyle's 2 for 3 effort with a walk and a run scored for the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, native. 

Up Next:

Madison College (3-1) is off until Saturday, March 20, when they will travel to Joliet Junior College for a non-conference doubleheader in Joliet, Illinois. The WolfPack lead the all-time series by a 35-18 tally, but have split the past eight meetings. First pitch is set for noon, with game two to follow around 3:00 p.m.

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