MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College baseball team managed to find an answer every time the #4-seed College of Lake County seemed to grab momentum, and earned a 4-3 win in the first game of the 2021 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Tournament at Robin Roberts Field on Thursday. WolfPack starter Reagan Klawiter worked into the ninth inning, and third baseman Zach Storbakken delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly in the seventh to push the tournament's top seed into the semifinals.

Madison College struck first in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a hit and an error. First baseman Logan Mantz registered the first hit of the game for the 'Pack, and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher on a pick off attempt at first. A wild pitch two batters later brought the freshman home for a 1-0 lead. College of Lake County (36-18) responded with a run in the top of the third, using a lead off double, followed by a single and a sac fly. The 1-1 tie lasted less than a half inning with the WoflPack scoring on two more Lancers errors. Shortstop Taiten Manriquez was safe at first on an error at third, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brady Jurgella. Two batters later, Zach Storbakken hit a high pop fly above home plate that was dropped by the catcher in fair territory as Manriquez closed in on home plate all the way from second. 

It remained a 2-1 lead until the College of Lake County assumed their first - and only - lead of the contest in the sixth. With two outs, the Lancers used consecutive hits to pull even, and took a 3-2 advantage on an error. Once again, Madison College was up to the task. First year designated hitter Eduardo Saucedo double to right, and when Eli Kramer ripped a two-out single to left, pinch runner Nathan Ebersole came around from second to make it a 3-3 game. The game-winning run came in the seventh, which began with a single through the left side from center fielder Brady Jurgella. A sac bunt and a wild pitch moved Jurgella to third in advance of Storbakken, who drove a pop fly deep enough to right field for Jurgella to tag up and score. 

Following a 1-2-3 eighth inning for Klawiter, the righthander from Verona, Wisconsin, started the ninth inning by inducing a ground out. He was then relieved by closer Jett Thielke, who recorded a strike out and a ground out to finish off the win.

Klawiter, a transfer from Illinois State University and Triton College, struck out six batter en route to improving to 7-1 on the season. He allowed two earned runs on nine hits without a walk in 8.1 innings of work. The two-batter save for Thielke was his eighth of the year.

Mantz, a native of Slinger, Wisconsin, was the lone WolfPack batter with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a run scored. Storbakken and Kramer each had a hit and a run batted in, while Jurgella posted a hit and a run scored. The WolfPack finished with six hits, three less than the Lancers, and drew three walks. 

The WolfPack's three wins over the Lancers this season have come by a combined four runs. Madison College is now 8-1 in postseason meetings with the College of Lake County, and owns a 30-5 mark all-time.

Up Next:

Madison College (41-12) will play again Friday, May 21 in the Regoin 4 Tournament semifinal against #3 Kankakee Community College (37-18). The WolfPack split with the Cavaliers in a road doubleheader on March 27. The all-time series between the two is separated by just two games, with the 'Pack boasting a 20-18 edge that includes a 10-2 mark in postseason contests. First pitch is at noon at Robin Roberts Field.

A limited amount of spectators are allowed (Fan Policy (PDF)), and the games can be seen live via MadisonCollege.tv.

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