KANKAKEE, ILL. - The Madison College baseball team came up with a road split of a key Region 4 doubleheader against Kankakee Community College that began with a marathon first game. The WolfPack, ranked third in the NJCAA Division II Poll, turned an extra inning game into a rout with a 14-5 victory after action was halted for passing storms, but the host Cavaliers used a four-run third inning to take the finale by a 7-4 tally that was nearly called due to darkness. The all-time series now sits at 24-19 after KCC ended the Pack's five-game win streak in head-to-head contests.

Game #1: #3 Madison College 14, Kankakee Community College 5 (11 innings)

Madison College posted the game's first run in the top of the first inning thanks to a productive groundout from Charlie Marion that allowed Carson Shepard to score. Three hits and a bases loaded walk in the second gave the Cavaliers their first run. The WolfPack answered with another run in the third on a two-out single from Ryan Santi drove in Gabe Roessler as part of a three-hit inning. A pair of doubles in the home half evened the score at 2-2. Both teams scored again in the fourth inning, with the Pack getting a bases loaded single from Grant Ross to plate Clayton Slack. The one-run innings kept coming with Madison scoring with another bases loaded walk of Roessler in the fifth and the Cavaliers putting up a run in the sixth for a 4-4 tie.

The game, which already saw a 30-minute delay as storms surrounded, but never hit the field, went to extra innings. Back-to-back hits to start the ninth allowed for the WolfPack to take a 5-4 lead as Carter Stebane's bunt fielder's choice scored Will Johannes. A double and a single in consecutive at-bats in the bottom half prevented the Pack from closing out the win as the game moved on. 

The Madison College bats exploded in the 11th with nine runs on six hits and four free passes that pushed the game past the five hour mark. Doubles from Ross and Trace Kirchberg gave the visitors a one-run lead, and RBI-singles from Shepard, Slack, and Roessler pushed the advantage to four. Ross drew a bases loaded walk to make it 10-5, and Roessler scored on a wild pitch four pitches before Johannes smashed a three-run home run to make it 14-5. The near grand slam gives Johannes a team-high four homers this season.

Slack, a native of Viroqua, Wisconsin, finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and one batted in. Johannes, a Mukwonago, Wisconsin, native, posted two hits, a team-best three RBI, and two runs scored. Ross and Roessler both registered two hits, two walks, two runs scored, and two runs driven in.

Starter Alex Hayes pitched 5.1 innings and did not factor in the decision. He allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks. The former Muskego HS athlete struck out a career-high nine batters for the second time this season to boost his team-leading total for K's to 38. Andres Kleinsek (4-0) took over in relief for the next 4.2 innings to pick up the win. He struck out four batters, and allowed one run on three hits and three walks. Allen Leitner worked a scoreless final inning with two strikeouts, a hit, and a walk.

Game #2: Kankakee Community College 7, #3 Madison College 4

The day's finale became as much a race against time and light as it was a baseball game between two evenly matched teams. Madison College again scored first with Grant Ross run-scoring double in the first inning. The Cavaliers quickly answered with two runs in the bottom half, including a solo home run off Ben Kasten. The first year righthander ran into more trouble in the third when a walk and two singles put KCC up 3-1. Then a bases-clearing double with two outs pushed the differential to 6-1. Another run in the fourth made it 7-1 in favor of the home team.

Down to their final at-bats, Madison College began to rally as the light began to fade. A double and two free passes filled the base paths, and three runs scored as a result of a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice, and a wild pitch. The WolfPack brought the tying run to the plate two more times, however, a fielder's choice and a strike out looking ended the game.

Ross led the offensive attack with two hits and two runs batted in. Slack turned a pair of walks into two runs scored.

Kasten (2-1) went four innings in taking his first loss of the season. The former Whitnall HS athlete surrendered seven runs, one of which was unearned, nine hits, two walks, and struck out six. Logan LeTourneau and Eamonn Mulhern each pitched a scoreless inning and both struck out two batters.

Up Next: 

Madison College (23-6, 2-0) was scheduled to host Kishwaukee College for a 1x9 on Sunday, April 16, however, the game was postponed due to weather and a makeup date has yet to be determined. The WolfPack welcome the College of DuPage (19-9, 2-2) to Robin Roberts Field on Wednesday, April 19 for a Region 4 and North Central Community College Conference doubleheader. The Pack has won seven of the last eight meetings and owns a 28-5-1 lead all-time over the Chaparrals. Game times are set for 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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