MADISON, WISC. - Twenty games into the 2022 season and the Madison College baseball team was finally able to play a game - or two - on their home field at Robin Roberts Field, which resulted in a sweep of in-state rival and Region 4 foe Bryant & Stratton College on Tuesday. The #1-ranked WolfPack rallied from an early three-run deficit to win the opener 9-4, and then blanked the Bobcats 10-0 in six innings. Starting pitchers Luke Hansel and Eli Hoyt were outstanding on the hill, while Spencer Bartel and Zach Storbakken provided the punch with home runs. The wins give the 'Pack a six-game win streak over BSC and a lead in the all-time series of 9-1.

Game #1: #1 Madison College 9, Bryant & Stratton College 4

The day started off on a rough note for the WolfPack and pitcher Luke Hansel, who retired the first two batters on two pitches before a pair of singles bookended a trio of walks to had the Bobcats an early 3-0 lead.

The Madison College bats came to his aid, getting one run back in the home half with a Zack Storbakken double that scored Gunnar Doyle all the way from first, and then taking the lead with a three-spot in the second. Eduardo Saucedo drove in a run to narrow the game to one, and Gabe Roessler ripped a bases loaded single that brought in Gabe O'Brien and Saucedo to put the 'Pack on top for good.

Three more runs in the third provided the home team with some cushion and a 7-3 advantage thanks to back-to-back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Spencer Bartel, Cameron Dupont, and Saucedo. The final two arrived via the long ball in the sixth when Bartel completed a productive afternoon with a two-run homer to center.

While the offense was handling its business, so to was Hansel. The right-hander from Caledonia, Wisconsin, settled in after the first inning and retired 12 straight batters until a walk opened the sixth inning. He started the seventh, however, back-to-back singles, inluding one that ricocheted off his foot, prompted a look to the bullpen for left-hander Adrian Montilva. Hansel (2-1) was credited with six innings and three strikeouts, and allowed four runs on four hits and four walks. Montilva fanned three of the five batters he faced in, giving up a hit and a walk with no earned runs allowed.

Bartel, the native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, now boasts three career home runs and finished the game with a season-best three hits, three runs scored, and three runs batted in. Storbakken, Dupont, and Saucedo also enjoyed two-hit performances. Saucedo, a former Oregon HS athlete, drove in two and scored once, while Dupont had a run and a RBI, and Storbakken added a run driven in. Roessler matched Saucedo with two RBI, and Brady Jurgella was second on the team with two runs scored.

The WolfPack six through eight hitters went 7 for 11 with six RBI and five runs.

Game #2: #1 Madison College 10, Bryant & Stratton College 0 (6 innings)

The finale was all WolfPack, and it started with a two-run first inning. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases, and back-to-back walks to Eduardo Saucedo and Spencer Bartel forced in the runs. An error in the third allowed Zach Storbakken to cross home. The big inning came in the fourth as the first six batters reached safely and led to six runs. Gabe Roessler and Gunnar Doyle each singled in a run, and then both were on board when Storbakken smashed his team-leading fourth home run of the year to make it 9-0. The final run came in the sixth to walk off the run-ruled victory as Brady Jurgella singled home Jake Fulton for the third hit of the inning and 13th of the game. 

While the offense was racking up runs, first year arm Eli Hoyt (2-0) was dominating the Bryant & Stratton College (7-18) batters with a career-high eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The Waukesha, Wisconsin, native also walked three batters before giving way to Charlie Campbell for a four-batter top of the sixth inning.

The first five batters in the WolfPack lineup posted two hits in the game, with Storbakken using his to drive in a team-best three runs and score another. Roessler and Doyle each had to runs scored and another batted in, while Jurgella and Saucedo each had a run and a RBI.

Up Next:

Forecasted storms canceled the second day of the home-and-home with Bryant & Stratton College, which was to be played at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wisconsin. Madison College (19-3) will return to action on Friday, April 15 to continue what is now a 14-game homestand over a 12-day period. The WolfPack will host Waubonsee Community College (8-18) at Robin Roberts Field. The all-time series stands at 13-10 in favor of the 'Pack. First pitch of the opener is slated for 2:00 p.m., followed by an expected 5:00 p.m. start for the nightcap.

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