ENID, OKLA. - Taking the field Friday night with a chance to claim the first NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series in program history, second-seeded Madison College had no answer for top-seeded Pearl River Community College in a 19-1 setback in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The lone run is the fewest scored in a game by the WolfPack since May 7, and snaps a seven-game postseason win streak. The series is now even at one-game-a-piece, with a decisive winner-take-all Game 3 slated for Saturday.

One day after Madison College opened Game 1 with a fast start in the top of the first innings, the Wildcats, playing as the visiting team for the first time in the tournament, posted four runs on two hits and three walks against WolfPack starter Carson Fluno.

The Pack answered back with a run in the home half of the first. After Jake Nelson scored and stole second, Zach Storbakken singled him in to get Madison College within three runs. 

Fluno settled in with a 1-2-3 second inning, however, the Wildcats would at least one run in each of the next seven innings to pull away. Leading 7-1 after four innings, PRCC racked up seven runs in the fifth against pitcher Isaiah Cerfus and Jacob Arndt to put the game out of reach.

Madison College had multiple base runners in numerous base runners in seven of the nine innings, but unlike Game 1, they were unable to produced timely hits. The Wildcats owned a 15-8 edge in hits, and also took advantage of 15 walks issued by WolfPack pitchers.

Fluno (4-2) took the loss after surrendering seven earned runs on four hits and six walks as the Sun Praire, Wisconsin, native worked three innings. Madison College would go on to use five more pitchers in the game. Cerfus tossed 1.2 innings and was credited for three earned runs on two hits and three walks. Arndt was in for 1.1 innings and was tagged for five runs, two of which were earned. He gave up three hits and three walks. Spencer Buskager, Kellan Short, and Charlie Campbell combined to cover the final three innings. Arndt, Buskager, and Short each recorded one K.

Nelson, a native of Altoona, Wisconsin, went 3 for 3 with a run scored to lead the offense. Storbakken added two hits and a RBI. Brady Jurgella, Gabe O'Brien, and Carter Stebane each recorded a base hit.

Up Next:

Each with a win in the series, Madison College (49-10) and Pearl River Community College (43-11) will play one final time to decide the 2022 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series Championship. The Game 3 finale on Saturday, June 4 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark will start at 2:00 p.m., which is a shift from the previously scheduled time of 7:00 p.m. due to anticipated wet weather later in the evening.  The WolfPack won Division III championships in 1995, 1996, and 1997, while the Wildcats are seeking their first-ever crown. 

All games will stream live on the NJCAA Network, with live stats of the Madison College games available via the GameChanger app.

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