MADISON, WISC. - Sophomore Mallory Sterling and freshman Lauren Steien combined for a five-inning no-hitter in the opener of a doubleheader sweep by Madison College (12-2) softball Friday at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field. The 13th-ranked WolfPack used the no-hit effort for an 8-0 win, and followed it up with a 15-4 decision in the rain against previously undefeated Dakota County Technical College (MN). The 'Pack has now won seven consecutive games to lead the all-time series with the Blue Knights by a 7-4 count.

Game #1: #13 Madison College 8, Dakota County Technical College 0 (5)

The WolfPack arms had it all working in the day's opener when Mallory Sterling and Lauren Steien did not allow a single hit and issued just two combined walks over five innings of work. The duo combined for seven strikeouts, led by six for Sterling.



While the pitcher's were making history in the circle, the Madison College bats were out used two big innings secure the run-ruled victory. They broke a scoreless game in the second with a pair of runs when freshman Alisia Palms tripled in Casey Fountain and Abbie Cavadini. It remained 2-0 until the fifth when the 'Pack plated six runs on four hits and three errors. A triple by Megan Miklesh started the surge by scoring Briel Burg, and was followed by a run-scoring double off the bat of Fountain. Palms picked up another RBI ahead of two DCTC errors that each scored a run, and Maddie Kvatek capped the scoring on a ground ball single to drove home Brianna Brandner.

Palms, a Chipperwa Falls, Wisconsin, native, and Kvatek, a product of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, combined for four of the team's eight hits, with Palms registering a career-high three runs batted in and one scored. Fountain led all players with two runs scored. Five of the team's hits went for extra bases.

Game #1: #13 Madison College 15, Dakota County Technical College 4 (5)

As rain began to fall at the start of the nightcap, Madison College jumped out to a big first inning lead. Dakota County Technical College (16-2) plated their first run of the day against starter Abbie Cavadini. The WolfPack bats took over from there with six runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Katie Joten led off with a triple, and eventually scored on a sac fly from Maddie Kvatek. Following a Hannah Melum run-scoring single, freshman Megan Zillges ripped a bases-clearing triple to advance the score to 6-1.



The home team did one better in the second frame with seven runs, highlighted by a two-run single for Melum and three consecutive run-producing hits from Bella Williams, Joten, and Brandner to make it 13-1. Freshman Taylor VonBehren made it 15-1 in the fourth when her single to right field allowed Bailee Hadley and Kvatek to reach home. The Blue Knights were able to cut the deficit down with three runs in the fifth, but it was not enough to prevent the run-ruled decision.

Cavadini (2-0) earned the win with her three innings of work allowing one unearned run on one hit and two walks, while striking out four. Sophomore Cathryn Hiller entered for the final two innings and surrendered three runs, two of which were earned, with three hits, two bases on balls, and two K's.

At the dish, Brandner led the WolfPack hit parade with a 3 for 3 effort that yielded two runs scored and another batted in. Melum, a native of Iola, Wisconsin, took advantage of her two hits to drive in a career-best three runs and score twice. Zillges and VonBehren matched Melum with three RBI in the game, with VonBehren also touching home twice.

Follow WolfPack softball: Facebook | Twitter | GameChanger