MADISON, WISC. - A big eighth inning rally Thursday erased a four-run deficit and handed Madison College another Region 4 victory with a 10-8 defeat of Highland Community College at Robin Roberts Field. The #2-ranked WolfPack trailed 8-4 entering the bottom of the eighth when they generated six runs to take their first lead since a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. Winners of five straight, the Pack also swept all three games against the Cougars this season to build an eight-game win streak in the head-to-head series and a 43-6 edge in all-time meetings.

Back-to-back singles from Gabe Roessler and Gunnar Doyle put the WolfPack in motion in the bottom of the first, and when the Cougars catcher committed an error, Roessler made his way home. The lead was short-lived, however, with Highland Community College (13-29) putting together a four-hit inning that produced four runs. A solo home run to lead-off the third against starter Spencer Buskager made it a 5-1 differential.

In the fifth, Roessler reached on a lead-off walk and advanced to second on Doyle's second single of the day. Following a steal of third by Roessler, a balk called on the Highland pitcher awarded the Pack another run. HCC began a scoring streak in the sixth with one run in three straight frames, including another solo homer. During that stretch, the WolfPack registered two runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth, with Roessler and Doyle both driving in a run.

With the visiting Cougars on top 8-4 and time running out, the WolfPack bats went to work in the eighth. A wild pitch accounted for the first run of the rally, and four consecutive walks added the second. With the bases loaded, Highland's pitcher uncorked another wild pitch to bring in Zach Storbakken. Then Carter Stebane lined a double to right that drove in Brady Jurgella and Cameron Dupont to put Madison College ahead 9-8. Jake Fulton, who had reached on a double in the inning, eventually scored on yet another wild pitch to give the Pack some breathing room.

Right-hander Luke Hansel came in to pitch the ninth inning, and worked 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout to end the game. He earned his team-leading third save of the season. 

Roessler, a shorstop from Rockton, Illinois, and Doyle, an outfielder/first baseman out of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, combined to go 6 for 8 with three runs scored and two batted in as the number two and three hitters in the lineup. Jurgella added two hits and two walks as part of a 14-hit, nine-walk effort for the WolfPack. 

The WolfPack used four arms in the win, with Buskager tossing the first four innings and surrendering five earned runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five before giving way to Kellan Short out of the bullpen. The first year pitcher from New Berlin, Wisconsin, gave up four hits and three runs in 3.1 innings. He also had a walk and four K's. Charlie Campbell (4-0) finished out the eighth inning with two outs in two batters to claim his fourth win of the year. 

Up Next: 

Madison College (36-6), now an impressive 30-games above .500, plays its third consecutive nine-inning game when Morton College visits Robin Roberts Field on Friday, May 6. The Panthers won the only meeting between the two teams in 2021, ending an 11-game win streak in the series for the WolfPack, who claim a 19-6 lead all-time. First pitch is at 2:30 p.m., and can be watched live at MadisonCollege.tv with live stats available via the GameChanger app.

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