GLEN ELLYN, ILL. - The first games of the North Central Community College Conference season also ended an 18-day game-less stretch since the Madison College softball team returned from their annual Florida Spring Trip, and after being pushed back an additional day to Sunday, the WolfPack earned a road split at the College of DuPage. The host Chaparrals rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Pack 7-6 in the opener, however, Madison College rebounded with a resounding 14-6 decision in the nightcap. The loss ended a six-game win streak in the all-time series, which COD leads by a 26-23 margin.

Game #1: College of DuPage 7, Madison College 6

The WolfPack struck first in the day's first game, plating two runs in the top of the first after Karis Paulson and Sammy Nelson led off with back-to-back singles. Starting pitcher Kiana Patterson then helped her own cause with a two-run double to center. After DuPage cut the lead in half with a run in the second, Madison posted four runs on five hits in the third to take a 6-1 advantage. Paulson led off with a triple and scored on Nelson's single. Three batters later, and with two outs on the board, Ellie Rademacher drove in a run on a single through the left side and freshman Madison Coubal doubled to left to bring in Makenna Gish and Rademacher.

The home team began their comeback effort in the fourth inning by loading the bases and driving in five runs on four hits, a walk, and an error to even the score. The eventual game-winning run came in the sixth as the frame began with single and a double. The final at-bats for the WolfPack in the seventh included moving the tying run into scoring position, however, a fly out and strikeout ended the game.

Nelson, a Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, native, finished 3 for 4 with a double for her third game with three or more hits this season. She scored two runs and drove in another. Paulson and Patterson each had two hits, with the former matching a season-high and scoring twice, while the latter brought in two runs. Coubal also finished with two RBI on one hit. 

Patterson (2-2) suffered her second consecutive loss as she was credited with four earned runs on 11 hits and a walk. The native of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, struck out four batters.

Game #2: Madison College 14, College of DuPage 6

A pair of five-run innings led to a lopsided decision in the day's final game, which opened with a first-inning run for Madison. Freshman Lillie Pluer grounded out to the shortstop, but it was enough to score Sammy Nelson from third. The College of DuPage (9-3, 1-1) tied the score at 1-1 in the third thanks to an error by the WolfPack. 

The first five-run inning came in the fourth as Madison used three consecutive singles to load the bases. Ellie Rademacher's ground out drove in Pluer, and first year shortstop Brooke Cimler tripled to right to plate Kiana Patterson and Briar Armatoski to make it a three-run lead. Makenna Gish singled over the third baseman to score Cimler and pitcher Hannah Aldrich's single with two outs allowed Gish to cross home for a 6-1 edge. 

The Chaps got one run back in the home half of the fourth, and then plated three more against Aldrich in the fifth to close within a run. The WolfPack answered with five more runs in the sixth, all of which came with two outs. Cimler stole home to ignite the scoring run, which then featured three run-producing hits by Aldrich, Pluer, and Armatoski to make it 11-5. The differential grew to 14-5 in the seventh after a single and two errors loaded the bases, setting up a RBI opportunities for Nelson, Claire Smedema, and Pluer. 

Madison's 16 hits rank second most in a game this season, and were a result of seven different players racking up at least two hits. Pluer, a Greenfield, Wisconsin, native, registered a career-best three hits en route to her third three-RBI effort. She also scored two runs for the fourth time. Cimler also set career marks with two hits, three runs scored, and two batted in. Gish matched Cimler with three runs scored on two hits and also drove in one.

Aldrich (3-0) remained perfect on the year with a winning effort over five innings. The product of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, fanned seven batters and was tagged for just one earned run on six hits. Smedema entered in relief for the final two innings and surrendered one unearned run, two hits, and a hit batter. She also struck out three to give the WolfPack its first ten-strikeout game of the season.

Up Next:

Madison College (7-9, 1-1) remains on the road Tuesday for a Region 4 doubleheader at Illinois Valley Community College (7-5). The WolfPack have won ten in a row over the Eagles, and boast a 13-5 lead in the all-time series. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m., with game two to follow at approximately 5:00 p.m.

Follow and watch both games live via the GameChanger app.

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