FREEPORT, ILL. - What appeared to be heading in the direction of a blowout win turned into a come-from-behind victory Thursday as the Madison College baseball team snuck past Highland Community College by a 10-9 final after letting an eight-run advantage slip away in the Region 4 matchup. The WolfPack, ranked #4 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, has now registered nine or more runs in five straight games and had double-digit hits in four of the five after finishing with 11 base knocks against the Cougars. 

With the originally schedule doubleheader adjusted to a single, nine-inning game due to weather and field conditions, Madison jumped out to a huge lead in the first two innings of the day's only contest. Following a double and a single to open the game, sophomore Gabe Roessler drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Three consecutive singles followed with freshmen Payton Frehner and Jake Petasek producing runs, the latter coming through with a two-RBI hit.

The WolfPack added another four-run inning in the second when Roessler followed consecutive singles with a run-scoring double to right, and first baseman Will Johannes ripped a triple to center that plated two more. The final run of the from resulted from a productive groundout by Frehner to drive in Johannes.

Highland (8-10) didn't wait long to begin chipping away at their deficit, using two walks and two extra base hits to generate three runs in the home half of the second. Down by five, the Cougars got a leadoff homer in the third off starter Liam Stumpf. Five runs in the fourth not only gave HCC their first lead, but marked the end of the day for Stumpf. The home team used five hits including two doubles and an error to make it 9-8 after four innings.

The run-scoring cooled off after that until Madison pulled even at 9-9 in the top of the sixth. With runners at first and second and two away, Frehner grounded a ball down the first base line that the first baseman misplayed, allowing Nick Nowak to score. In the seventh, Dayton Rozinski-Hicks was hit by a pitch, and then advanced to third when an attempt to catch him stealing second resulted in a bad throw from the catcher. First year right fielder Colin Obermann lofted a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Rozinski-Hicks and regain the lead at 10-9. 

The Madison College pitching and defense worked 1-2-3 through the seventh and eighth before overcoming a pair of walks in the ninth for the win.

Nowak, a Waukesha, Wisconsin, native, produced his second three-hit game of the season just one day after having a ten-game hitting streak come to an end. His 3 for 6 day yielded a season-high three runs scored. Johannes finished with two hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. The former Mukwonago HS athlete has multiple hits in four games this season. Fellow first year Charlie Marion also had two hits for the second consecutive game and score two runs.

Roessler finished with a hit, two walks, two RBI, and a run scored, while Frehner amassed a hit, a run scored, and one batted in. Petasek was one of three players with two RBI.

Stumpf lasted 3.2 inning and was tagged for nine runs, eight of which were earned, on eight hits and three walks. He struck out two before giving way to Nick West (2-1), and the righthander from Verona, Wisconsin, tossed 4.1 innings in relief to earn the win. He held the Cougars without a run on two hits, one hit batter, and three K's. A third freshmen arm, Grant Ross, came in to work the ninth and picked up his team-leading second save.

The WolfPack now owns a nine-game win streak against Highland, as well as a 44-6 lead in the all-time series.

Up Next: 

Madison College (12-3, 0-0) is schedule to host the College of DuPage (12-5, 0-0) in the home opener at Robin Roberts Field on Saturday, April 1. The doubleheader is also the first games in North Central Community College Conference play for both squads. The all-time series belongs to the WolfPack by a 28-5-1 margin that includes a sweep of a road twin bill last season. First pitch for the opener is set for noon, while game two is expected to begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. 

Watch the games live at MadisonCollege.tv, and follow live stats via the GameChanger app.

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