DIXON, ILL. - The Madison College softball team kept their foot on the gas towards trying to earn a top-seed in the NJCAA Region 4 Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Sauk Valley Community College on Sunday. The WolfPack nearly pulled off back-to-back shutouts as the kept the Skyhawks off the scoreboard for 13 consecutive innings in earning wins of 5-0 and 5-4. The two victories boost the all-time series record to 13-3 in favor of the 'Pack.

Game #1: #19 Madison College 5, Sauk Valley Community College 0 (7 innings)

It took four full innings for either team to put anything but a zero on the scoreboard as the WolfPack ended a scoreless game in the top of the fifth with two runs. Abbie Cavadini and Katie Joten hit consecutive doubles to start the inning and give Madison College the lead, which was padded by a run on Maddie Kvatek's sac fly. Katherine Brandl drove in Briel Burg in the sixth with a single to right, while Kvatek and Casey Fountain pushed it to 5-0 in the seventh with run-scoring base hits.

Fountain had already done enough in the pitcher's circle to get the win for the 'Pack. The freshman improved to 6-1 with her third shutout performance of the season. Fountain, a righthander from Poynette, Wisconsin, scattered five hits and two walks over seven innings, while also setting down seven batters via strikeout.

Joten went 3 for 3 with two extra base hits to pace the offense. The first year infielder from Little Chute, Wisconsin, scored two runs and drove in another. Cavadini also had two hits in the game. Kvatek finished with a team-best two RBI and a run scored as she recorded one hit and one walk.

Game #2: #19 Madison College 5, Sauk Valley Community College 4 (7 innings)

Freshman Lauren Steien nearly duplicated Fountain's pitching feat in the nightcap, holding the Skyhawks without a run into the final inning. Madison College took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, which was highlighted by Katherine Brandl's RBI triple to center. They made it 4-0 in the third thanks to a passed ball and Mia Noelker's run-scoring groundout. An extra insurance run crossed home in the sixth as Maddie Kvatek tagged up from third on a Brandl sacrifice fly, and it proved to be crucial. 

Sauk Valley Community College (6-14) was held to just five hits heading into the bottom of the seventh when they finally got to Steien. Singles by three of the first four batters made it a 5-1 score, and a two-out, bases-loaded double brought in three more to cut the differential to one. With the tying run on third, Steien finished off the win with strike out, her third of the game. The former Blair-Taylor HS athlete was tagged for four earned runs on nine hits in her seven innings to improve to 5-1.

Madison College was limited to five hits from five different players. Brandl, a native of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, picked up a team-high two RBI and also scored a run.

The WolfPack went 7-1 on their eight-game road trip.

Up Next:

Madison College (21-3), winners of seven straight games, is back at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field on Thursday, April 22 for another important Region 4 twin bill against Waubonsee Community College (11-15). The WolfPack owns a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. in the opener, with game two set for a 6:00 p.m. start.

Spectators are limited to immediate family only (Fan Policy (PDF)), and the games can be seen live via MadisonCollege.tv.

NOTE: Madison College as scheduled to play #1 Rock Valley College on Tuesday, April 20, however, the N4C doubleheader was rescheduled for Monday, April 26. 

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