MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College baseball team closed out its 2021 regular season schedule with two more wins Sunday at Robin Roberts Field in a Region 4 twin bill against South Suburban College. The WolfPack, then ranked #18 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, held off the Bulldogs for a 5-4 win to start the day, and then tallied seven unanswered runs after falling behind early to win 7-2 in the nightcap. The two victories pulled the 'Pack even with SSC at 21-21 in the all-time series.

Game #1: #18 Madison College 5, South Suburban College 4 (7 innings)

Madison College got on the board first with a Gabe O'Brien sacrifice fly that plated Logan Mantz, who had opened the second inning with a double. The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead in the fourth with a hit batter, a single, and a double against Carson Fluno. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native allowed another run in the fifth on three base hits before a parade of arms closed out the final two innings. Down two in the sixth, the WolfPack rallied with four runs on five hits. The rally started in a big way as team home run leader Zach Storbakken added to his season total with a solo shot to left. Mantz tied the game with his second two-bagger of the game, driving in Gunnar Doyle. Three batters later, Jake Fulton put the 'Pack on top for good with two-run double to left.

The game was still in doubt in the top of the seventh as Madison College pitchers loaded the bases, eventually forcing in a run to make it 5-4 and moving the tying-run 90 feet from home plate. Closer Jett Thielke entered with two out and three runners on, but was able to induce a fielder's choice ground ball to end the game. It gave the former Bay Port HS athlete seven saves on the year, placing him fifth in the nation.

Foldy, a native of Colgate, Wisconsin, and the lone sophomore on the 2021 roster, was credited with the win after throwing a scoreless sixth inning with two hits, a walk, and a K. Fluno, who started the game, surrendered three earned runs on five hits and two walks. The righthander matched a career-high with ten strikeouts. Ryan Hubley and Justin Grosse also saw action in the seventh inning.

Mantz was the lone player to register multiple hits in the winning-effort as he went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and one batted in. Fulton was tops with two RBI on his one hit. Storbakken's home run gives him eight on the season and was his first home run since April 17.

Game #2: #18 Madison College 7, South Suburban College 2 (7 innings)

The WolfPack had to battle from behind in the finale after South Suburban College (36-17) tallied a run in the second and third innings. The rally came in the fourth inning with three runs on two hits, two walks, and an error. After the first three batters all reached base, Ryan Hubley and Eli Kramer were issued back-to-back bases on balls to force in two runs and tie the game. Following a pitching change for the Bulldogs, a wild pitch allowed the third run to score with Jake Nelson crossing home. Nelson then delivered a run-scoring hit in the fifth when his single to left plated Eduardo Saucedo. Five hits, including four consecutive singles, generated the final three runs of the day. Saucedo registered an run batted in and was one of two runs to score on Nelson's line drive up the middle.

Saucedo, an Oregon, Wisconsin, product, scored a team-best three runs and brought in another as a result of his first-career three-hit game. Nelson, a native of Altoona, Wisconsin, drove home a team-high three runs and scored another as part of a 2 for 3 performance. Hubley and Ebersole also had two hits in the game, with Hubley picking up one RBI.

The WolfPack used three pitchers in the win, with starter Alex Redman (8-0) keeping pace with the top arms in the country by securing his eighth, one fewer than the national leaders. Redman worked 5.2 innings and allowed eight hits and two earned runs, while striking out two and walking one. Charlie Campbell and Jack McNeil also took the hill, and combined for a two-hit shutout with a pair of K's for the final inning-and-a-third.

Up Next:

Madison College (38-12) received the #1 seed for the upcoming 2021 Region 4 Division II Tournament, and will host the entirety of the tournament at Robin Roberts Field. The action will begin Friday, May 14 with the first two games of a best-of-three Sectional series against #8-seed Highland Community College (24-19-2). Game 3, if necessary, will be played in Saturday, May 15. The WolfPack swept the Cougars on April 22 in Madison, earning wins of 9-5 and 10-2. They are 38-6 all-time against Highland CC, including a meeting in the 2018 sectional series that required all three games to decide a winner. In seven previous postseason meetings, the 'Pack is 5-2. The winner advances to the Region 4 Division II Tournament on May 20-22, which will be hosted by Madison College if the WolfPack move on.

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

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