FRANKLIN, WISC. - A pair of win streaks came to an end Monday when the Madison College baseball team split a Region 4 and North Central Community College Conference doubleheader against in-state rival Milwaukee Area Technical College at Franklin Field. The Stormers claimed the opener by a 3-1 score to end a five-game losing streak against the WolfPack, who also saw their current six game win streak come to an end. The top-ranked team in the NJCAA Division III Poll for the second consecutive week responded with a 7-2 victory to close out the trip down I-94. Madison College still boasts a 96-16 all-time record against MATC-Milwaukee.

Game #1: Milwaukee Area Technical College 3, #1 Madison College 1

Madison College struggled to come up with timely hits in the low-scoring first contest of the day, which started with a bases loaded double play in the top of the first to get the host Stormers out of a jam. MATC-Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the second on a RBI double against starter Jacob Wilde. The WolfPack were able to pull even at 1-1 in the fourth. After an intentional walk of Cameron Dupont loaded the bases, Gabe O'Brien was hit by a pitch with two outs to force in the team's only run of the game. A wild pitch in the fifth from Wilde allowed the go-ahead run, and back-to-back singles in the sixth tacked on an insurance run for Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Wilde (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season through five appearances and three starts. The left-hander was tagged for two earned runs on three hits and three walks, while also striking out a season-high eight batters. Spencer Buskager entered after the Stormers took the lead and tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits. He also fanned a pair.

At the plate, the WolfPack were held to a season low three hits, which Gabe Roessler, Gunnar Doyle, and Brady Jurgella each producing one. O'Brien had the team's lone RBI, with Zach Storbakken scoring the only run. 

Game #1: #1 Madison College 7, Milwaukee Area Technical College 2

Game two opened with Milwaukee Area Technical College (17-9, 1-1) putting the first run on the board with starter Isaiah Cerfus hitting a batter with the bases loaded to force in a run. The score was 1-1 after the third when Gabe Roessler doubled home Eli Kramer to mark the first of three consecutive run-scoring innings for Madison College. In the fourth, an error on a Zach Storbakken steal of third base brought the Sussex, Wisconsin, native in to score. Then Luke Hansel doubled to left and Brady Jurgella was able to cross home for a 3-1 advantage. Four runs in the fifth put the 'Pack in full control. Gunnar Doyle and Spencer Bartel each registered a run-scoring hit, with the latter being a two-run single. In between, Doyle was able to score on a wild pitch.

The WolfPack generated nine hits, led by two from Carter Stebane. Bartel had a team-high two RBI, while the trio of Kramer, Storbakken, and Jurgella each scored a pair of runs.

Certfus, a right-hander out of Union Grove High School, struck out a career-high eight batters en route to improving to 2-0 on the season. He worked five innings and surrendered one run on four hits and four walks before giving way to Riley LeTourneau for the final two frames. LeTourneau fanned three of the nine batters he faced, and gave up one run, one hit, and two walks.

Up Next:

Madison College (17-3, 3-1) will finally play its first true home game on Tuesday, April 12 against in-state and Region 4 foe Bryant & Stratton College (7-16). The teams will play home-and-home doubleheaders with two games at Robin Roberts Field, followed by a twin bill on Wednesday at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wisconsin. The WolfPack is 7-1 since first playing the Bobcats in 2018, and have victories in four consecutive meetings. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m., with an approximate 4:00 p.m. start for the finale on Tuesday. Both games can be watched live at MadisonCollege.tv.

Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook | Twitter