FREEPORT, ILL. - The Madison College softball team entered the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Softball Tournament having claimed a district title and subsequent trip to national tournament in each of the past three years in which a tournament was conducted. That streak ended in 2022 as the second-seeded WolfPack were eliminated after three games in the NJCAA Midwest District A Tournament, falling a win shy of reaching the championship round at the two-day event. Madison College won their opener over sixth-seeded Sauk Valley Community College by a 4-3 final, and then lost to eventual Region 4 champion and top-seeded Triton College 9-2 on Saturday. The Pack returned Sunday morning for an elimination game rematch against SVCC, and the Skyhawks got their revenge with a 5-1 decision. The Trojans went on to defeat Sauk Valley by a 12-1 final to earn their second straight crown and national tournament berth.

Game #1: (2) Madison College 4, (6) Sauk Valley Community College 3

Despite scoring the first run of the game, Madison College needed a late rally for a walk-off win against the Skyhawks, a team they had split a home doubleheader with during the season. Defensively, the WolfPack worked out of a bases-loaded and no outs jam in the top of the first thanks to an inning-ending double play turned by middle infielders Briar Armatoski and Ellie Rademacher. In the home half, Madison College plated one when an error and a single put right fielder Bri Unger into scoring position, and first baseman Mia Noelker came through with a line drive single to left.

Though they did leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the 1-0 lead held until the top of the third when SVCC used two singles sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt to even the score. They jumped ahead 3-1 in the top of the fifth with two runs on back-to-back two-out singles after the inning started with the lead off batter reaching on a dropped third strike.

Madison College, which outhit the Skyhawks by a 9-5 margin in the win, with four hits coming in the bottom of the seventh to claim victory. Pinch hitter Sammy Nelson and Unger got the rally started with consecutive singles, and after a sac bunt moved both into scoring position, Noelker delivered the team's extra base hit, a double to center that scored both pinch runner Brianna Brandner and Unger. Now tied at 3-3 with one out and pinch runner Chariell Butler on second, third baseman Trista Ripp delivered her biggest hit of the year with a hard single to through the right side to drove in Butler for the 4-3 win.

Ripp, a transfer from Bryant & Stratton College and a native of Dane, Wisconsin, went 2 for 4 with a run batted in. Noelker, an Overland Park, Kansas, native, also generated two hits and picked up fourth three-RBI performance of the season. Unger, a former Mosinee HS athlete, scored a team-high two runs and had one hit.

Mallory Sterling got the start in the circle for the WolfPack, however, the right-hander was pulled after two walks and a hit batter to the first three she faced. Fellow righty Casey Fountain (14-3) took over and tossed seven strong innings to get the win. She struck out nine and walked one, while giving up one earned run on five hits as she began a busy two days.

Game #2: (1) Triton College 9, (2) Madison College 2

Seeking their first win in three tries this season against Triton College (49-7), the WolfPack tried to keep up with the Trojans, who are ranked #10 in final NJCAA Division II Poll. The top seed in the field used two singles and a double against starter Casey Fountain to take a 2-0 lead. However, the WolfPack answered right back with a run in the second inning. Mia Noelker led off with a walk, and Abbie Cavadini followed with a double to put runners in scoring position. With two outs on the board, a passed ball allowed Noelker to race in and get the Pack on the board.

The game really changed in the third when Fountain walked the first two batters of the inning, and then served up a three-run home run to make 5-1 and force the Pack to bring in reliever Kiana Patterson. Again, Madison College responded, getting another run back in the fourth, which started with Maddie Kvatek doubling to center and Noelker taking a walk, and after a sac bunt advanced the duo another 60 feet to allow for Kvatek to score on an error by the Trojans catcher at the end of the next at bat. Triton College put the game out of reach with a four-spot in the fifth on four singles, three walks, and one error.

Fountain (14-4) took the loss, ending a four-game win streak for the program's all-time strikeout leader. She walked four and gave up four hits en route to five earned runs over 2.2 innings. Patterson, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, worked the final 3.1 innings and was tagged for four earned runs on five hits and four walks.

The WolfPack offense was limited to three hits as a result of striking out 15 times. Kvatek, Noelker, and Cavadini each had a hit, and Kvatek and Noelker both scored a run. 

Madison College is now 24-15 all-time against Triton College, which won all three meetings in 2022. The two teams have split their only two postseason matchups.

Game #3: (6) Sauk Valley Community College 5, (2) Madison College 1

Needing a win for their fifth consecutive appearance in the Region 4 championship, Madison College was forced to play from behind right from the start as Sauk Valley Community College (20-17) scored multiple runs in the game's first two innings. The Skyhawks took a 2-0 lead on a two-run double off starter Mallory Sterling, and then smashed a two-out, three-run homer in the second to go up 5-0.

The WolfPack tried to answer in the bottom of the second with back-to-back one-out singles, but the runners were left stranded. Casey Fountain, who took over as pitcher in the third inning, came through with her bat in the fourth. Her double to the center field wall was enough to send Trista Ripp around from first and put the Pack on the scoreboard. Fountain would be left on second, which would also mark the final time in the game that the WolfPack had a runner in scoring position.

Kvatek, a Stevens Point, Wisconsin, native, and Ripp each went 2 for 3, with the latter scoring the team's lone run. Fountain was 1 for 3 with a RBI.

Sterling (6-5) took the loss after surrendering five runs on four hits and a walk in her inning-and-two-thirds. She did strike out one before Addison Warner came in to finish the second inning with a strike out. Fountain held the Skyhawks without a run over the final five innings, scattering three hits and two walks, while also striking out one. She finishes her career with 245 K's and 27 wins.

Fountain and Kvatek were named to the 2022 Region 4 Division II Midwest District A All-Tournament Team for their play over the weekend. Fountain finished 1-1 with ten strikeouts, while allowing six earned runs over 14-plus innings. She also went 2 for 7 at the plate with a run batted in. Kvatek finished the weekend with four hits in nine at bats and one run scored.

Madison College boasts a 15-5 mark all-time against the Skyhawks, and are now 4-3 in postseason contests.



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