MADISON, WISC. - The start of the North Central Community College Conference softball schedule brought a matchup of nationally ranked programs at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field, and it produced a doubleheader split. Madison College, ranked 13th in the NJCAA Division II Poll, claimed the opener with a 6-2 decision, however, Joliet Junior College, ranked #4 in the NJCAA Division III Poll, left town with a 5-3 victory in the nightcap. The WolfPack own a 34-15 edge in the all-time series.

Game #1: #13 Madison College 6, #4 Joliet Junior College 2 (7 innings)

Madison College ran out to an early lead with two runs in each of the first two innings. Katie Joten led off the bottom of the first with a single, and after stealing second, scored on a Brianna Brandner single up the middle. Two batters later, sophomore Abby Luczak roped a double to left to plate Brandner for the 2-0 advantage. Much the same in the second, Alisia Palms opened with a single and stole second ahead of Briel Burg, who tripled in a run and scored on a Joten groundout to make it 4-0. It became 5-0 in the fourth when Joten's bunt single was enough to get Palms across home. The Wolves finally got on the board in the fifth with two runs, but a Megan Miklesh triple and Abbie Cavadini sac fly capped the scoring.



Joten, a former Little Chute HS athlete, finished 2 for 3 with a team-best two RBI and a run scored. Luczak, Miklesh, and Burg also had two hits in the game, Burg registering a run scored and one batted in. Palms, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was tops with two runs scored as she went 1 for 1 with two walks at the plate.

Meanwhile, freshman Casey Fountain (4-0) put together yet another dazzling pitching performance with one earned run allowed on five hits and two walks. The Poynette, Wisconsin, product posted eight strikeouts to improve her team-leading 33 on the year.

Game #2: #4 Joliet Junior College 5, #13 Madison College 3 (7 innings)

The finale opened with dominant pitching through the first three innings, and then Joliet Junior College (10-9, 1-1) dented the scoreboard with a pair of runs off starter Cathryn Hiller. The WolfPack answered in the home half to even the score thanks to a hit and two errors. Mia Noelker crossed home on a ground out by Bella Williams, and Megan Miklesh's sacrifice fly was enough for pinch runner Taylor VonBehren. Despite a pitching change in the fifth, the Wolves were able to produce three more runs on three hits and an error. The home team got one back in the bottom half with Joten scoring on a fielder's choice, but unfortunately, that was all the scoring Madison College would generate.

Of the team's five hits, Joten registered two of them. Noelker, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, was the lone player with both a run scored and on driven in.

Hiller (0-1) was tagged for two earned run on five hits in her four innings of work. The sophomore from Random Lake, Wisconsin, also had two strikeouts. Mallory Sterling tossed one inning in relief and gave up two unearned runs with two hits, one walk, and a K. Freshman Lauren Steien pitched the final two innings and scattered two hits and recorded two strikeouts.

Up Next:

Madison College (10-2, 1-1) is off Wednesday before traveling for former N4C rival Triton College (25-6) for a Region 4 doubleheader in River Grove, Illinois. The Trojans are receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII Poll, however, the WolfPack have dominated the head-to-head series with a 23-11 record and four straight wins. Game one will start at 4:00 p.m., followed by a 6:00 p.m. first pitch for the second game.

Fans are allowed at Triton College.

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