SUN PRAIRIE, WISC. - The 2022 Madison College baseball home opener was canceled due to weather on April 3, only to be followed by another cancelation on the second attempt on April 7, and saw the third attempt on Sunday, April 10 shifted from Madison to nearby Sun Prairie for a doubleheader against Region 4 opponent Carl Sandburg College. The #1-ranked WolfPack didn't flinch, and swept the Chargers with wins of 7-2 and 5-2 at Summit Credit Union Field to push their current win streak to six straight games. The pair of victories also extends a win streak for the 'Pack in the head-to-head series to six and gives Madison College an 18-4 lead all-time.

Game #1: #1 Madison College 7, Carl Sandburg College 2

The day's opening game turned on a high-scoring fifth inning for the hosts. Two innings prior, Gunnar Doyle doubled home Eli Kramer and Eduardo Saucedo to overcome a one-run deficit, however, the one-run lead was wiped away in the next half inning. Even at 2-2, the WolfPack went to work in the fifth by loading the bases on a hit by pitch and back-to-back singles. An error by the Carl Sandburg College shortstop allowed two runs to score and put the 'Pack on top for good. Zach Storbakken singled in another run and Brady Jurgella plated two more with a two-bagger to right to cap the five-run frame.

Jurgella, a Menasha, Wisconsin, native, was the lone Madison College bat with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with two runs batted in. Doyle and Gabe Roessler matched Jurgella with a pair of RBI, while Kramer and Saucedo tied for team-high honors with two runs scored.

Right-hander Jett Thielke (4-0) kept his perfect record in tact with 5.1 innings and six strikeouts. His 28 strikeouts leads the team, and his 1.86 ERA ranks in the top 25 in the nation. He was saddled with one earned run on six hits and two walks. Alex Hayes worked the final 1.2 innings of shutout baseball with one hit allowed.

Game #2: #1 Madison College 5, Carl Sandburg College 2

Game two was scoreless into the third inning when the WolfPack jumped on top 2-0. Carter Stebane led off with a single and then scored when Carl Sandburg College (13-10) misplayed a ball of the bat of Eduardo Saucedo. The catcher then scored on a double to left from Eli Kramer. A pair of walks in the fourth put runners in scoring position when Stebane again stepped to the plate, and the second baseman from Brillion, Wisconsin, capitalized with a two-run single to center. The Chargers got on the board in their half of the fifth. The scoring was capped in the bottom half when Jake Nelson drove in Zach Storbakken 

Carson Fluno (1-0) secured his first win of the season with three innings of three-hit baseball and no runs allowed. The former Sun Prairie HS athlete walked one and racked up three K's. Kellan Short followed with two innings of work, giving up the two runs on four hits. He also fanned two batters. Chris Byhre came in for the final two innings and registered his first career save. A Delafield, Wisconsin, native, Byhre struck out two and walked one, but did not allow a single hit or run.

Stebane finished with two hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored to lead the WolfPack offense. Kramer, a product of Greenville, Wisconsin, matched Stebane with two hits, and drove in one run. Jake Nelson produced a hit, a run, and a RBI.

Up Next:

Madison College (16-2, 2-0) continues what is quickly becoming a busy week with a rescheduled doubleheader Monday against in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (16-8). The Region 4 and North Central Community College Conference twin bill will be played at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wisconsin. The WolfPack has won five in a row since the Stormers used an extra innings victory to snap a 38-game losing skid in the head-to-head series. The all-time tally stands at 95-15 in favor of the 'Pack. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. for game one, followed by an appoximate 4:00 p.m. start for the finale. 

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