CLERMONT, FLOR. - The Madison College softball team began their annual Florida Spring Trip with a split of two games on Thursday at Hancock Park. The WolfPack needed just five innings to top Mott Community College by a 5-0 count for their third straight win to begin the season, but saw that streak come to an end after losing an early lead in a 9-8 walk-off loss against Jackson College in extra innings. Sophomore Makenna Gish smashed two home runs on the day, while second year pitcher Claire Smedema threw a two-hit shutout.

Game #1: Madison College 8, Mott Community College 0 (5)

Following a scoreless first inning, Madison College plated the game's first two runs in the second inning with one swing of the bat. Freshman Sophie Rivera singled to center two batters before fellow first year Lillie Pluer fouled off four pitches in an eight-pitch at-bat the concluded with a two-run homer to left field.

Makenna Gish sent the first pitch of the third inning over the left field wall to make it 3-0, and Pluer added to her RBI total with a double that plated Sammy Nelson before the inning was over.

A four-run fourth inning put the game out of reach, with the WolfPack taking advantage of two walks and three hits. Back-to-back walks put runners on for freshman Mackenna Schultz, who ripped a double to the centerfield fence to make it 5-0. A fielder's choice from Gish added one more, and a two-run single from shortstop Jenna Redders capped the scoring.

Claire Smedema (1-0), a sophomore righthander kept the Bears bats guessing en route to a two-hitter and her first win of the season. The Watertown, Wisconsin, native walked one batter, hit two, and struck out three as she faced 20 total batters.

Pluer finished the game with two extra base hits and a season-high three runs batted in, to go along with one run scored. She boasts two home runs in just three games played. Schultz also enjoyed a two-hit game with one RBI. 

Gish posted two runs batted in and two runs scored as part of her 1 for 3 effort.

Madison College is now 4-0 all-time against Mott Community College.

Game #2: Jackson College 9, Madison College 8 (8)

The day's second game seemed headed in a similar direction before ending in heartbreak. A first inning error by the WolfPack allowed Jackson College to get on the board first, but four hits, a walk, and three errors in the top of the second gave Madison College a 6-1 lead.

Three consecutive singles opened the inning, and after back-to-back strikeouts, the Pack started a two-out rally with a RBI walk of Chariell Butler. An error resulted in another run before Sophie Rivera singled to left to drive in Madison Coubal. Errors on the next two balls put in play allowed both Butler and Rivera to cross home.

The Jets came back with a two-out scoring spurt of their own in the second, producing consecutive run-scoring singles against starter Kiana Patterson. A bases loaded walk by Patterson in the third brought the differential to 6-4.

Makenna Gish equalled her feat from earlier in the day with another first pitch home run to lead off the fifth, giving the West Bend, Wisconsin, native a three-game home run streak and pushing the WolfPack lead to 7-4. 

The Jets took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with four runs on four hits and two errors, but Madison College answered in the sixth with a game-tying run that resulted from a walk and three passed balls.

The game went to extra innings played under the California rule and the WolfPack failed to take advantage of having the bases loaded with one out the top of the eighth. Jackson College would plate the game-winning run on a one-out single to left. 

Rivera went 3 for 4 with a run scored and batted in. The former Oconomowoc HS athlete owns a four-game hitting streak and leads the Pack with a .692 batting average. Gish finished 2 for 5 with two runs and a RBI.

Patterson worked the first four-and-a-third innings surrendering five earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and two hit batters. She did fan two before giving way to freshman Ella Wyskochil (0-1) in the fifth inning. The New Berlin, Wisconsin, native took the loss after tossing three innings and giving up one unearned run on three hits and a walk.

Jackson College is now 2-0 against the WolfPack in the all-time series.

Up Next:

Madison College (3-1) plays two more games Friday in the Sunshine State, starting with a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch against Lake Michigan College (4-4). They follow with a 3:30 p.m. CT start against Hocking College (2-3). It is the first-ever meeting with both programs. Follow games via the GameChanger app, and select games will stream live via Flo Softball. 

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