MADISON, WISC. - A collision between two surging teams both ranked in the
NJCAA Division II Poll ended with #1 Madison College sweeping #12 Kankakee Community College on Sunday at
Robin Roberts Field. The WolfPack held off the Cavaliers for a narrow 3-1 win in the opener before exploding for a 10-1 rout in the nightcap. Owners of a season-best 14-game win streak, the Pack now also boasts a four-game win streak over KCC, as well as a 23-18 edge in the all-time series. The pair of victories also moved head coach
Mike Davenport to 997 career victories at the NJCAA level.
Game #1: #1 Madison College 3, #12 Kankakee Community College 1
The day's first game saw limited runs produced despite both teams scoring in the first inning. After Kankakee produced a run on a ground out, the WolfPack got a two-out single from
Zach Storbakken to drive in
Eli Kramer, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Still tied 1-1 in the fourth, second baseman
Jake Nelson led off with a single to right and catcher
Eduardo Saucedo followed with a double to left to put runners in scoring position. After a
Carter Stebane ground out, left fielder
Gabe O'Brien lined a single to right that brought Nelson and Saucedo in for a 3-1 lead.
The Cavaliers had the bases loaded in the fifth, but were unable to score, and in the seventh, righty
Carson Fluno fanned the first two batters before a single and a dropped third strike put the tying runner on base. He coaxed a game-ending pop out to shortstop
Gabe Roessler for the final out.
Starter
Eli Hoyt (4-0) earned his fourth straight victory, going five innings and holding the Cavaliers to a single run on seven hits and a walk. The Waukesha, Wisconsin, native struck out five before handing the reigns over to Fluno to pick up his first save of the spring. The former Sun Prairie HS athlete registered four strikeouts and allowed one hit in two innings of work. He's the fifth player to record a save for the WolfPack.
Despite also striking out nine times against the KCC starting pitcher, Madison College produced eight hits, including two each by Storbakken and Saucedo. Storbakken went 2 for 3 with a RBI and two stolen bases, while Saucedo was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Game #2: #1 Madison College 10, #12 Kankakee Community College 1
After scratching out a run in the first inning on an error, sacrifice bunt, and a ground out, Madison College went on to dominate Kankakee Community College (31-7). Despite two outs on the board, the Pack loaded the bases in the bottom of the second for
Eli Kramer, who doubled to center to clear the bases. A hit by pitch and single later, and the bases were loaded again for
Zach Storbakken, who drew a walk to make it 5-0.
The duplicated the feat again in the fifth with four more runs on four hits, including three that went for extra bases.
Eduardo Saucedo ripped a double to left to drive in Storbakken three batters after the third baseman opened the inning with a double.
Gabe O'Brien finished the frame with a triple to right that plated
Jake Nelson and Saucedo. They capped the scoring with a run in the sixth.
Storbakken, a native of Sussex, Wisconsin, went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a run batted in. Kramer, an outfielder from Greenville, Wisconsin, drove in a team-high three runs for the second time this season, and also scored two more runs as he went 2 for 4 at the plate. O'Brien was one of six other players to record a hit, and the designated hitter produced two runs and two RBI.
The win went to pitcher
Jacob Wilde (2-1) as the left-hander ended a four-game drought between wins. Wilde scattered five hits and two walks while holding the Cavaliers to a single run over six innings. He struck out a season-high nine batters.
Riley LeTourneau worked an inning in relief and fanned two of the four batters he faced.
The two victories put Madison College at 30 wins for the season, marking the 14th time under head coach
Mike Davenport they have accomplished that feat.
Up Next:
Madison College (30-3) altered their schedule and extended the homestand by an extra game, moving the April 28 doubleheader against Kishwaukee College (2-20) to Monday, April 25 for a single, 9-inning game at
Robin Roberts Field. The WolfPack has won three in a row and 12 of the last 14 meetings with the Kougars en route to a 38-24-1 advantage in the all-time series. Sitting three wins shy of 1,000 for his career, Monday's matchup is also a reunion for head coach
Mike Davenport, who earned 339 wins and a national championship while at Kishwaukee College from 1995-2004. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. Watch it live at
MadisonCollege.tv and follow live stats via GameChanger.
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