SCHAUMBURG, ILL. - The first full, nine-inning game of the 2021 season did not go as hoped for the Madison College baseball drop, as it dropped a 5-3 contest to NJCAA Region 4 foe Oakton Community College on Friday. The 20th-ranked WolfPack held narrow leads in the first few innings before the Owls rallied for the two-run win at Boomers Stadium. The setback narrows the gap in the all-time series to 15-12 in favor of Madison College, though the 'Pack has lost three of hte last four meetings and two consecutive. The two teams will play again in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 27. The series has now been shifted from Des Plaines, Illinois, to Robin Roberts Field in Madison, Wisconsin.

After a scoreless first inning, both teams were able to generate some offense in the second. Logan Mantz opened the frame with a single up the middle. Jake Nelson and Gabe O'Brien each singled later in the inning, with O'Brien driving in Mantz for the game's first run. During the next at-bat, Nelson took advantage of an error on the catcher to race in for a 2-0 advantage. Oakton Community College (2-3) answered in the bottom half with a run on a double, a wild pitch, and single to left to cut the deficit in half. The WolfPack made it a two-run lead once again in the third. Sloppy fielding allowed lead-off hitter Kameron Laskowski to not only reach first, but advance to second and third before Brady Jurgella drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center.

The 3-1 lead evaporated in the fourth when the Owls plated two runs on two hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. An inning later, OCC took the lead for good when they used two runs, a walk, a dropped third strike, and an error to push across two more runs for a 5-3 edge. 

The WolfPack mustered just four hits against Oakton, with Jurgella, Mantz, Nelson, and O'Brien each getting one. Nelson, Mantz, and Laskowski each scored a run, while Jurgella and O'Brien were each credited with a RBI. Owls pitchers recorded 14 strikeouts.

On the hill, Madison College starter Reagen Klawiter worked the first 3 2/3 innings and was credited with four strikeouts and three earned runs on six hits and a walk. Riley LeTourneau (0-1) entered in relief and took the loss after giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits and two walks. The freshman from Brookfield, Wisconsin, struck out five

Up Next:

Madison College (4-3) travels to Region 4 opponent Kankakee Community College on Saturday, March 27. The two programs have played to a 19-17 split of the all-time series, with the WolfPack owning the advantage after taking four of the last six. First pitch is set for noon, with game two to follow at 3:00 p.m.

Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook | Twitter | GameChanger