MADISON, WISC. - Just two runs separated Madison College and Triton College on Sunday afternoon at Robin Roberts Field, and the #6-ranked WolfPack survived to sweep the Trojans by scores of 4-3 and 5-4. Sophomore Alex Hayes stuck out a career-high 11 batters in the day's first game, establishing a new high for Pack pitchers in 2023. Madison increased its lead over Trojans in the all-time series to 28-21, and is now on a four-game win streak for the fourth time this season.

Game #1: #6 Madison College 4, Triton College 3

Alex Hayes got right to work, whiffing the first two batters he faced. A scoreless game was broken in the top of the fourth with three consecutive Trojans singles against Hayes and a Madison error to make it 2-0. The WolfPack responded with a four-spot in the home half. Sophomore Gabe Roessler ignited the rally with a leadoff home run for his first long ball of the season. After back-to-back single from Payton Frehner and Grant Ross, Will Johanns roped a double to deep center to score another. A sacrifice fly from Dayton Rozinski-Hicks made it 3-2, and Carson Shepard's single to shallow right was enough to score Johannes for a 4-2 advantage.



Triton College got a run back in the fifth on a double steal that also ended the inning and made it 4-3 in the fifth. Hayes would fan four of the next five batters he faced until a single and a fly out put the tying run just 90 feet away. Coach Mike Davenport went to the bullpen and freshman Liam Stumpf entered to hurl seven pitches and strike out the final batter of the game.

Hayes (5-0) remains perfect on the season and posted double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his career. He allowed two earned runs and one unearned on six hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. Stumpf, a former Mineral Point HS athlete, picked up his first career save.

Roessler's big blast marked his third career home run. He was matched by Johannes with a hit, a run, and a RBI. Frehner and Ross both had a hit and a run scored, while Shepard tallied a hit and a run driven in.

Game #2: #6 Madison College 5, Triton College 4

The WolfPack bats were clutch in the first inning of game two, getting a two-out single from Will Johannes that drove in Clayton Slack and Jake Petasek. Triton College (26-17) got a run back in the second, but a two-out wild pitch in the second inning was enough for Carter Stebane to score after he led off with a walk. A productive ground out in the third for the Trojans made it 3-2.

Slack, a first year infielder, started the fifth inning with a double, and two batters later, Charlie Marion drove a fly ball to the wall in right. As Slack scored from second, Marion hustled all the way around and took advantage of an error by the Trojans to record a triple and a run scored.

Triton College didn't go away, and in the seventh inning, smashed a two-run homer off Adam Balcerak to close the gap to one. Balcerak then induced a pop fly to Ryan Santi at first base to close out the win. 

Slack registered two hits and two runs scored, while Johannes added two RBI on one hit. Marion was credited for a hit, a run scored, and one batted in. 

Starter Andres Kleinsek (5-0) joined teammate Alex Hayes in the five-win club after six innings of work. He gave up one earned run and one unearned run on five hits and two walks. The righthander struck out four before handing the ball to Balcerak for his first career save. The Muskego, Wisconsin, native was credited with a strikeout, two earned runs, and two hits allowed in his one inning.

Up Next: 

Madison College (27-6, 2-0) is at Harper College (7-22, 0-6) on Monday, April 24 for a Region 4 and North Central Community College Conference doubleheader. It is a makeup from Saturday's postponed twin bill. The WolfPack have won five in a row over the Hawks and are 23-5 all-time. First pitch is at 1:30 p.m. for game one, followed by an approximate 4:30 p.m. start in the finale.

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