ROCKFORD, ILL. - Madison College had no answers Tuesday to slow down the runaway train that is Rock Valley College. The host and top seed for the
2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division II District B Tournament defeated the third-seeded WolfPack by a 14-1 final to claim the region banner and the automatic berth to the
2023 NJCAA Division II Softball Championships. The loss marks the program's second runner-up finish in the tournament, and gives Madison College a 27-20 final record.
The eight-time defending NJCAA Division III champions got to work immediately with three runs in the first inning. After a single to center drove in a run for RVC, a two-run home run to center made it a 3-0 edge and chased starter
Addison Warner from the game after just two-thirds of an inning.
In the second, the Golden Eagles generated eight runs on six hits, two hit batters, and an error. Of the hits was a another two-run homer, this time off reliever
Kiana Patterson.
Sophomore
Claire Smedema entered two batters later, and slowed the Golden Eagles bats with three consecutive scoreless innings. In the sixth, however, Smedema joined her pitching teammates in giving up a three-run home run to a 14-run differential.
Madison College posted its only run in the top of the seventh with a two-out double from sophomore
Briar Armatoski to score
Sophie Rivera. The WolfPack nearly scored one batter prior, but
Ellie Rademacher was cut down at trying to score.
Rivera, a sophomore from Ixonia, Wisconsin, and Armatoski, a second year from Amherst, Wisconsin, each posted two hits. Armatoski registered the team's only RBI, and Rivera scored the team's lone run.
Warner (2-3) was tagged for three runs on three hits and walk in her brief stint. Patterson stayed a bit longer, but was saddled with two earned runs on the seven total runs scored during the game. She also gave up six hits in her one full inning. And Smedema tossed 4.1 innings and allowed four total runs, three of which were earned, with six hits, a walk, and four strikeouts.
The trio of Patterson, Armatoski, and
Karis Paulson were named to the Region 4 District B All-Tournament Team.
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