ENID, OKLA. - The Madison College baseball team is truly in a survive and advance situation at the 2021 NJCAA Division II World Series, as they seek to keep their national championship dreams alive by making their way through the double-elimination tournament's loser's bracket at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The fifth-seeded WolfPack dropped their opener Saturday night to fourth-seeded Kellogg Community College (MI) 5-1 to fall into an elimination game with ninth-seeded Frederick Community College (MD), which the 'Pack won 6-2 on Sunday. Madison College will continue to attempt to work its way through the loser's bracket on Tuesday, starting with a 1:00 p.m. game against eighth-seeded Phoenix College.

Game #1: (4) Kellogg Community College 5, (5) Madison College 1

Playing under the lights on day one of the tournament, Madison College wasn't quite ready for primetime against the Bruins. Kellogg Community College (36-11) raced out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. An error on the first batted ball put a runner on, and a double to right by the following batter made it 1-0. A second error in the inning two batters later allowed the second run to score. The differential grew to three runs in the third when starter Reagan Klawiter gave up a lead-off home run.

Madison College finally broke through in the fifth. Gunnar Doyle singled to start the inning, and advanced to second on a ground out. Designated hitter Eduardo Saucedo then roped a single to right, which was misplayed and allowed Doyle to come home. The Bruins responded with three hits and a run in the home half to regain their three run lead at 4-1. A second lead-off homer in the seventh off Klawiter made it a 5-1 game. Madison College went 1-2-3 in every offensive inning from the sixth through the ninth.

The WolfPack finished with more errors than hits, amassing three miscues and just two base knocks. Doyle, from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and Saucedo, a native of Oregon, Wisconsin, provided the hits. Bruins pitching also recorded eight strike outs and did not walk a single batter.

Klawiter (7-2) saw his win streak end at six straight games after giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on six hits and three walks. The Verona, Wisconsin, native went 6.1 innings and fanned five batters. Jack McNeil entered for the final 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit or run, while striking out a pair and walking one.

Madison College and Kellogg Community College have split two all-time meetings at the Division II World Series.

Game #2: (5) Madison College 6, (9) Frederick Community College 2

Madison College avoided an early exit by holding off Frederick Community College (20-11) in the tournament's second elimination game of the second day. The WolfPack got on the board first with a second inning run as right fielder Spencer Bartel began his productive afternoon with a run-scoring single to that drove in Logan Mantz. The Cougars tied it a 1-1 in the third with a two-out solo home run against starter Jacob Wilde. Still tied through six innings, the 'Pack plated two more on three hits in the seventh. Zach Storbakken started the scoring rally with a double, and scored on a ground ball up the middle off the bat of Gunnar Doyle. With Doyle on second after a successful steal, Bartel produced his second RBI with a grounder through the left side. Frederick Community College again responded with a single run in the bottom half. 

In need of some insurance, the WolfPack made it a four-run cushion with three runs on one play in the ninth. After Bartel led off with a single to right and Brady Jurgella walked, shortstop Jake Nelson laid down a sacrifice bunt. The ball was fielder by the pitcher, who threw wide of third in an attempt to cut down Bartel. The errant throw continued down the wall along the left field line and was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing Jurgella and Nelson to continue advancing and score easily. Now with a 6-2 lead, coach Mike Davenport turned to Jett Thielke to finish off the win, which he did with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Bartel, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, finished the game 3 for 4 with two runs batted in and another run scored. Storbakken, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, product, and Doyle both posted two-hit games as Madison College outhit the Cougars 7-6. Doyle registered a RBI and a run scored, while Storbakken touched home once. Mantz, Jurgella, and Nelson also scored a run without getting a hit.

Wilde, pitching for the first time since the Region 4 Sectional on May 14, improved to 7-1 as he held the opposition to one run on five hits and three walks. The former Waukesha West HS athlete struck out two batters during his six innings of work. Sophomore Patrick Foldy pitched two innings in relief, and was tagged for an unearned run on one hit and a walk before giving way to Thielke.

The WolfPack win came in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Up Next:

Madison College (44-13) will play a second-round elimination game against eighth-seeded Phoenix College (26-22). The game was originally schedule for Monday afternoon, however, rain in Oklahoma forced a postponement to Tuesday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The WolfPack is 3-1 all-time against the Bears, with all four meeting occurring during the team's annual spring trip to Arizona between 2007 and 2009. The winner will play again Tuesday in an elimination quarterfinal against fourth-seeded Kellogg Community College (36-12) at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the tournament, including live streaming options, click here.

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