ROCKFORD, ILL. - The race for the North Central Community College Conference softball crown is shaping up to be a one-horse race after Rock Valley College swept a doubleheader with Madison College on Tuesday. The top-ranked Golden Eagles earned a pair of 9-1 victories to create a four-plus-game lead over the WolfPack. The wins give RVC a full sweep of the three-game regular season series and a 43-19 edge in all-time meetings, including wins in five straight games.

Game #1: #1 Rock Valley College 9, Madison College 1 (6 innings)

Neither team was able to score in the first two innings, and the visiting WolfPack secured the day's first lead with a run in the third inning. An error by the Golden Eagles shortstop put Grace Madeiros on base and, two batters later, Brianna Brandner made RVC pay with a single to left that brought Madeiros in from second. Unfortunately, that would be it for Madison College, who surrendered two runs in the bottom of the third against starter Addison Warner. A two-run homer ignited a three-run fourth for RVC, and the home team put the game away in the sixth with four runs against Kiana Patterson.

Warner (3-1) finished with two earned runs on four total runs allowed over three innings. The freshman from Gilman, Wisconsin, struck out four and walked two to take her first loss of the year. Warner handed the ball over to Patterson for the final 2.1 innings. She was tagged for four earned runs on seven hits.

At the plate, the Pack was limited to three hits and a walk. Maddie Kvatek, Brandner, and Mia Noelker each had a base hit, with Brandner picking up the only RBI and Madeiros scoring the lone run. 

Game #2: #1 Rock Valley College 9, Madison College 1 (5 innings)

The Golden Eagles continued their offensive onslaught in game two with two early runs in the first inning, followed by three runs each in the second and the third innings. After allowing another run in the fourth, Madison College trailed 9-0 entering the fifth inning, where they scored their only run as Sophie Rivera crossed home on a ground out by Mackenzie Backman

Rivera, a former Oconomowoc HS athlete, went 2 for 3 to register her fourth multi-hit game of the season. Briar Armatoski posted the only other hit.

Right-hander Claire Smedema (3-1) suffered her first setback in 2022 with nine total runs allowed, six of which were earned, on a dozen hits and a walk over four innings. She retired one batter via strikeout.

Rock Valley College (28-6, 10-0) has outscored the WolfPack 32-3 in their three meetings this spring.

Up Next:

Madison College (16-10, 4-3) returns home on Saturday, April 23 to try to snap a three-game losing streak when they host Carl Sandurg College (12-15) for a Region 4 twin bill. The WolfPack is 12-3 all-time against the Chargers, and boasts wins in the previous nine meetings. First pitch at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field is at noon, followed by an approximate 2:00 p.m. start for the finale. Watch both games live at MadisonCollege.tv and follow live stats via GameChanger.

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