MADISON, WISC. - The race for the top seed for the upcoming Region 4 Division II Tournament just got a little tighter after Madison College answered the bell Thursday with a 10-2 win over visiting McHenry County College to split a home-and-home series. The win at Robin Roberts Field avenges a 6-1 road loss one day prior in another matchup of teams ranked in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll. The WolfPack now boasts a 31-14-1 lead in the all-time series, while also reaching 30 wins for the 24th time in the last 28 seasons.

Madison College scored a run in six of the eight innings the team came to the plate, including each of the first three frames as they built a 7-1 lead. Grant Ross got it started with a two-out single in the first to drive in Gabe Roessler, McHenry County College (35-8) pulled even with a leadoff solo home run off starter Chris Byhre, who responded by striking out each of the next three batters.

In the second, the WolfPack took advantage of inconsistent Scots pitching to draw four straight walks and force in a run. Then Nick Nowak touched home for a 3-1 lead during a double play. Four hits and two errors in the third added up to the biggest offensive inning of the day for the Pack. Freshman Evan Iwinski battled through a ten-pitch at bat to line a single to center, scoring Ross to ignite the surge. Dayton Rozinski-Hicks and Clayton Slack put together back-to-back run-scoring hits before a MCC error allowed Rozinski-Hicks to cross home for the six-run lead.

The differential grew to 8-1 in the fifth with a Clayton Slack RBI-single to left that scored Jake Petasek, and after the Scots scored their final run in the sixth, the home team completed the scoring with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Petasek in the sixth and another Rozinski-Hicks run on a McHenry error in the seventh.

Ross, a native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, led the hit parade with his second three-hit performance of the season. He scored two runs and drove in another, as did Rozinski-Hicks on two hits and Petasek with one hit.

Slack was tops with two RBI and two hits, while Iwinski's fourth multi-hit game yielded a run scored and one driven in for the Franklin, Wisconsin, product.

Byhre (4-2) earned his fourth win of the season thanks to six strikeouts over seven strong innings. The righthander from Delafield, Wisconsin, allowed two runs on eight hits and four free passes before fellow second year Kellan Short locked down the Scots for two perfect innings. 

Up Next: 

Madison College (30-8, 44-4) is off Friday before a Region 4 and North Central Community College Conference doubleheader with Joliet Junior College (29-20, 4-2) on Saturday, April 29 at Robin Roberts Field. The Wolves, who won the N4C title last season, are currently ranked #8 in the NJCAA Division III Poll. First pitch of game one is set for noon, followed by an approximate 3:00 p.m. start for the nightcap.

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

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