MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College softball played their third and final North Central Community College Conference doubleheader on Thursday, and for the third consecutive time, they settled for a split at Robert D. Goodman Softball Field. The WolfPack dominated the opener and won 10-2 in five innings, however, Joliet Junior College responded with a 5-1 decision in the finale. The result of the twin bill puts the all-time series at 37-16 in favor of the Pack.

Game #1: Madison College 10, Joliet Junior College 2 (5 innings)

Three innings with multiple runs sent the WolfPack to their fourth consecutive win, tying a season-best win streak from two sweeps on April 7 and 14. Sophomore Sophie Rivera led off the second with a single and stole second base. Then a misplayed bunt by Jenna Redders allowed Rivera to score. Fellow second year Chariell Butler then came through with a two-run single lined into center for a 3-0 lead. The inning was capped by a Karis Paulson ground out that plate Butler for a 4-0 lead.

A sacrifice fly in the top of the third put the Wolves on the board, but Madison answered with another four-spot in the fourth inning. With Butler and Sammy Nelson aboard, Paulson singled to left to make it 5-1, and after an Ellie Rademacher single, Kiana Patterson drove a double to the wall in right that cleared the bases for a seven-run advantage.

Joliet got another run back in the fifth on two free passes and a RBI-single, but the WolfPack walked off with the run-rule victory in the home half. With the bases full, Nelson ripped a line drive to left that scored Mackenna Schultz and Redders for the win.

Addison Warner, a second year righthander from Gilman, Wisconsin, improved to 2-2 on the season with a career-high seven strikeouts. She was credited with two earned runs on four hits and a walk in her five innings.

Butler was one of three players with two hits in the game, as the native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, went 2 for 2 with a walk and tallied two runs scored and two batted in. Nelson, a former Assumption HS athlete, used her two hits to drive in a pair of runs and score another. And Rademacher had two hits and a run scored.

Patterson led the team with three runs batted in with one hit, while Paulson had one hit with two RBI. 

Game #2: Joliet Junior College 5, Madison College 1

The brief win streak came to a close in the nightcap, which remained scoreless through two innings. Joliet Junior College (24-17, 3-5) took advantage of a pair of WolfPack errors in the third to ignite and a two-out rally and take a 2-0 lead. They tacked on three more runs in the third on three hits, a walk, and two more errors.

Madison snapped their scoring drought in the fourth when Ellie Rademacher followed Jenna Redders' leadoff walk with double to center. The WolfPack left seven runners aboard in the game, including two in the bottom of the seventh after consecutive two-out hits.

Sophomore Claire Smedema (4-3) was given the loss after surrendering five unearned runs on six hits over 3.1 innings. She fanned two batters before Hannah Aldrich took over for the final 3.2 innings, and kept the Wolves off the scoreboard with three hits and two walks. Aldrich struck out four opposing hitters.

Offensively, five WolfPack batters registered a hit, led by Redders and Rademacher, who finished with a run and a run batted in, respectively. 

The softball team also celebrated Staff & Faculty Appreciation Day by inviting members of the Madison College staff and faculty to attend and thanking them for their time and dedication. Provost Dr. Turina Bakken threw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to game two as she prepares to retire in June after 25 years of service to Madison College. 
 

Up Next:

Madison College (19-17, 3-3) is back on the road Friday to play two games at Carl Sandburg College (9-29) in Galesburg, Illinois. The WolfPack is 14-3 all-time against the Chargers with wins in each of the last 11 meetings. Start times are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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