ARIZONA - Madison College enjoyed its most successful spring trip to Arizona in program history and nearly finished with a perfect record as they went 10-1, ending with a three-game win streak. The #2-ranked WolfPack, according to the NJCAA Division II Week 3 Poll, reached 7-0 before an extra innings loss ended the season-opening win streak. The 'Pack responded with three consecutive wins before departing for Wisconsin.

Game #7 (Tuesday in Tucson, AZ): #2 Madison College 14, Williston State College 4 (5 innings)

In Tucson for the second time on the trip, Madison College opened a doubleheader against schools from North Dakota with a resounding victory. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half inning, the WolfPack got one back in the home half courtesy of a double and an error. The tied really turned in the bottom of the third when the 'Pack put up six runs on four hits and three walks. Second baseman Gabe Roessler opened the frame with a solo home run to left for his first career homer. Four batters later it was Zach Storbakken lining a run-scoring single to give Madison College the lead. Brady Jurgella and Carter Stebane added two-run singles as they advantage grew to 7-2. The Tetons put two back on the board in the fourth before Madison College rallied for seven runs and a walk-off, run-ruled victory in the fifth inning. All but one of those runs came with two outs, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple off the bat of Gunnar Doyle and a walk-off two-run homer for Storbakken to create the ten-run differential.

Madison College generated double-digit hits for the seventh straight game, led by Jurgella's 3 for 3 effort that included a pair of doubles. The native of Menasha, Wisconsin, produced two runs scored and two batted in. Eli Kramer had two hits and a team-high three runs scores. Storbakken, who clobbered his second homer of the trip, went 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Doyle drove in a four runs for the second consecutive game, and also scored one run as part of a 1 for 4 performance. Roessler, a Rockton, Illinois, native, used his home run and a walk to rack up two runs scored and a RBI.

Jacob Wilde (1-0) earned his first win of the year as he limited WSC to four runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out five in his five innings on the hill.

Game #8 (Tuesday in Tucson, AZ): Lake Region State College 8, #2 Madison College 6 (9 innings)

The long hiccup on the trip was came in the form of an extra innings loss in the nightcap of a twin bill in Tucson. Gunnar Doyle's bat stayed productive with a sacrifice fly in the first and a RBI-single in the third to stake Madison College to a 2-0 lead. The Royals tied it up in the fourth, however, the WolfPack also tallied a pair of runs after three-straight walks loaded the bases and Brady Jurgella drove two in with a single through the right side. Leading 5-2 entering the seventh, the 'Pack turned to right-hander Dayne Louis to close out the win, however, LRSC was able to generate three runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-out single that plated the tying run. In extra innings, neither team was able to score in the eighth despite Madison College loading the bases with one out. Back-to-back errors in the middle infield in the ninth inning gave the Royals an 8-5 edge. In their final at-bats, the 'Pack again filled the bases with no outs, but were only able to turn that into a single run as their win streak came to an end.

Jurgella and Roessler were the only players with multiple hits, and Jurgella added two runs batted in and a run scored. Five others enjoyed a hit in the game, with Doyle matching Jurgella for team-high honors with two RBI.

Starter Alex Hayes, a left-hander from Muskego, Wisconsin, worked six innings and was tagged for four earned runs on eight hits and fanned three. Louis (0-1) took the loss with three runs allowed, though only one run was earned. He surrendered four hits and struck out four over 2.1 innings. Eli Kramer entered to get the final two outs and was credited for giving up a hit and an unearned run.

Game #9 (Wednesday in Mesa, AZ): #2 Madison College 8, GateWay Community College 4

Madison College would play single, nine-inning games the rest of the trip, starting with an 8-4 decision over the Geckos. Consecutive extra base hits from Jake Nelson and Gunnar Doyle, and a sac fly by Zach Storbakken put the WolfPack up 2-0 in the first. GateWay used a triple of their own to plate a first inning run that was countered in the second inning back-to-back errors from the home team that allowed the 'Pack to take a 3-1 advantage. With the differential back to a single run entering the fourth, Madison College popped off for four runs. Nelson ripped a single to center that drove in Gabe Roessler and Carter Stebane. Two batters later, Storbakken delivered his third home run ball on the season for a two-run shot and a 7-2 lead. The game's final run came in the ninth as Spencer Bartel singled to right and Storbakken raced in to score. 

The two through four hitters of the Madison College lineup combined to go 8 for 14 with six runs batted in and five runs scored. Doyle, an outfielder and first baseman from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, posted his second four-hit game of the trip and finished 4 for 5 with two runs scored and one batted in. Storbakken was 2 for 3 with a team-high three RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Nelson added two hits, two runs driven in, and one scored. Bartel also had multiple hits in the game, and registered a RBI.

Jett Thielke (2-0) dominated on the hill, striking out 11 batters to match his career-high set back in February 2020 when he made his collegiate debut. The native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, tossed six innings and gave up three runs on six hits before Eli Hoyt took over for the final three frames. He was tagged for one unearned run, one hit, three walks, and a season-high six K's.

Game #10 (Thursday in Scottsdale, AZ): #2 Madison College 9, Scottsdale Community College 3

The penultimate game of the trip featured a fast start for the WolfPack, taking a 7-0 lead after the first two innings. Three runs in the first inning were the result of three walks and three singles, highlighted by a run-scoring hit from Spencer Bartel. Madison College loaded the bases in the second inning, and Zach Storbakken brought in two runs with a double to center ahead of a ground out and passed ball that produced the final two runs of the inning. The Artichokes chipped away with runs in the third and fourth to cut the differential to 7-3, The final two runs crossed the plate in the seventh, which opened with a triple to center by Bartel. He then scored on a Jake Fulton sac fly. Back-to-back doubles from Gabe Roessler and Eli Kramer added up to one more run for the six-run victory.

Five of the team's 12 hits went for extra bases, and four players finished with two hits in the game. Bartel, a former Sun Prairie HS athlete, was 2 for 4 with a run scored and one batted in, while Kramer posted two hits, one run scored, and one RBI. Storbakken had just one hit, but was tied for the team lead with two runs scored and two runs driven in.

The WolfPack used four pitchers in the win. Starter Jacob Arndt allowed three unearned runs in his 3.2 innings, walking five batters and allowed two hits. He did strike out three before Charlie Campbell (2-0) entered for one inning of work that featured a walk and a strikeout, but earned the righty from Cudahy, Wisconsin, the win. Carson Fluno registered three K's during his inning-plus before Luke Hansel closed out the game with three scoreless innings on two hits and five strikeouts.

Game #11 (Friday in Phoenix, AZ): #2 Madison College 9, Paradise Valley Community College 7

The finale in the desert required the WolfPack to hold off a late charge by PVCC to extend the win streak to three games and finish with ten wins in 11 games. Trailing 2-1 after three innings, Madison College scored four runs in the fourth to assume the lead for good. Cameron Dupont single in the game-tying run before Gunnar Doyle drove a three-run double to right field. Gabe Roessler pushed the lead to 7-2 on a double to center that plated two more runs in the fifth, and Zach Storbakken used a two-bagger of his own to drive in Doyle for an 8-2 advantage in the sixth. The Pumas scored two runs in their half of the sixth, and after Brady Jurgella single home the final Madison College run in the seventh, Paradise Valley made it interesting with three runs in the eighth before WolfPack pitching closed out the win.

Kramer, a native of Greenville, Wisconsin, was joined by Doyle and Dupont in a group of players that each racked up three hits. Kramer's led to two runs scored, and Dupont had a run and a RBI. Doyle crossed home once and drove in four runs for the third time this season, and finished the trip leading the team in hits (20) and RBI (18). Roessler went 2 for 3 with two runs and two runs batted in.

Once again the WolfPack used as many arms as possible, sending six players to the mound. Isaiah Cerfus started the game and allowed two runs on a hit and two walks. He struck out one in his 2.2 innings before giving way to Kellan Short for two more innings. Short surrendered a run and three hits, while fanning one. After Riley LeTourneau pitched an inning-plus, Chris Byhre (1-0) picked up his first career win despite allowing a run on two hits. He did strike out two batters. Adrian Montilva and Spncer Buskager combined to toss the final 1.2 innings, with Buskager picking up his first save.

Up Next:

Madison College (10-1) moved up to a tie for #1 in the newest NJCAA Division II Poll, marking the first time atop the Division II rankings in program history and a return to the top spot for the first time since the 1998 season following three-straight NJCAA Division III National Championships. The WolfPack are back in action on Friday, March 25 when they open a ten-game road-trip by playing a doubleheader against Moraine Valley Community College (5-9). The WolfPack is 7-1 all-time against the Cyclones, including three straight wins coming in the 2019 season. First pitch in Palos Hills, Illinois, is at 2:00 p.m., with the nightcap scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.

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