JOLIET, ILL. - A non-conference doubleheader between to conference rivals produced a pair of dramatic games as Madison College baseball split a Saturday twin bill with Joliet Junior College. The WolfPack lost a 3-2 walk-off decision in the opener, but rebounded to shut out the Wolves for a 3-0 extra-innings win in the finale. Madison College is now 36-19 all-time against JJC, and the two teams have evenly split the past ten meetings. They are scheduled to meet again in a North Central Community College Conference doubleheader on Saturday, May 1 at Robin Roberts Field.

Game #1: Joliet Junior College 3, Madison College 2 (7 innings)

Madison College stepped off the bus and scored two runs almost immediately. A pair of walks and two steals set up runners on second and third with one out for the WolfPack's top run producer, and Zach Storbakken came through with a two-run double to left. Unfortunately, the WolfPack would muster up just two more hits in the game.

The host Wolves evened the score in the fourth with a two-RBI double of their own. It remained 2-2 into the seventh, where the visitors had the go-ahead run on third with two outs when Eli Kramer went down swinging. In the bottom half, a lead off single set the stage for Joliet Junior College to earn a walk-off win with a run-scoring line drive to right two batters later.

Freshman Jacob Wilde started the game and worked the first three-and-two-thirds innings. He allowed two earned runs on just two hits, but did walk three and hit two. Wilde, a Waukesha, Wisconsin, native did strike out six JJC batters. Luke Hansel (1-1) took over in the fourth and ultimately took the loss when surrendering the game-winning run. The first year righthander from Union Grove HS finished with one strikeout, while allowing one earned run and two hits.

Storbakken, third baseman from Sussex, Wisconsin, posted two of the team's three hits and added to a pair of RBI to his team-leading season total of nine.

Game #2: Madison College 3, Joliet Junior College 0 (8 innings)

After scoring two runs in the first inning of the opening game, the WolfPack would fail to cross home again for 13 innings. The nightcap was a defensive battle with neither team producing a run through the regulation seven innings. Neither team pushed a runner past second base during that span.

In the eighth inning, Madison College loaded the bases with one out on a Gunnar Doyle single, a Brady Jurgella double, and a walk of Zach Storbakken. Freshman Eduardo Saucedo followed with a ground ball to third that was misplayed and the error allowed the game's first run to score. Free passes drawn by Kameron Laskowski and Gabe O'Brien forced in the second and third runs to give the 'Pack some breathing room. 

The bottom half of the eighth started with a walk thrown by Patrick Foldy, sending coach Mike Davenport to the hill to call for Jett Thielke. The tall righty promptly induced a double play ground ball and a game-ending pop out in foul territory. Foldy (1-0), a sophomore from Colgate, Wisconsin, picked up the win, his first of the season with one inning on the hill and just one walk allowed. Thielke's inning on the hill earned the Green Bay, Wisconsin, native, his first career save.

Former Sun Prairie HS athlete Carson Fluno started the game and held Joliet Junior College (9-8) to a hit and a walk over five innings. He also racked up a career-high eight strikeouts. Fellow SPHS alum, Taylor Jansen tossed an inning of scoreless baseball in relief with a hit and two walks credited to him. 

Madison College tallied four total hits, led by a 2 for 3 effort with a walk and a run scored from Gunnar Doyle, a native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Jurgella had a hit and a run scored, while Laskowski put up a hit and a run batted in.

Up Next:

Madison College (4-2) returns to the road on Tuesday, March 23 at Waubonsee Community College (4-2) in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The WolfPack narrowly leads the all-time series by a 12-10 tally. Since sweeping a doubleheader in 1998, the two programs have split nine consecutive twin bills, but have not played since 2014. The opener is slated for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch, followed by a 4:30 p.m. start in game two. 

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