MADISON, WISC. - One day after pulling out a win with just three hits, the Madison College bats returned to form in time for a 7-4 win over McHenry County College in the 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Tournament on Friday at Robin Roberts Field. The top-seeded WolfPack scored runs in each of the first three innings while starting pitcher Alex Hayes limited the second-seeded Scots to one run as the hosts built a four-run advantage. The Pack is riding a season-best 11-game win streak.

A hit by pitch and a Grant Ross single in the bottom put two runners on, and after a fielder's choice left runners at the corners, freshman Will Johannes singled to the left side to plate Carson Shepard for an early lead.

The second inning saw the home team put three runs on the scoreboard thanks to four hits and a successful double steal. First year catcher Nick Nowak singled in Clayton Slack, and after two more base knocks loaded the bases, Ross hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Nowak. Coach Mike Davenport then called for Ross to steal second, and while the freshman was called safe on a head-first slide, Shepard raced in from third to make it 4-0.



McHenry County got to Hayes in the third inning with a two-out, two-run home run, however, the WolfPack got both runs back in the bottom half. Sophomore Carter Stebane lifted a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly that plated Johannes, and a bases loaded walk of Gabe Roessler forced in the other to make it 6-2.

The WolfPack went to the bullpen after one out in the top of the seventh, and new arm Ben Kasten gave up a two-out double that trimmed the lead to three-runs. Again, Madison answered the bell and got the run back a half-inning later as Shepard came to the plate with the bases filled and produced a sac fly to center deep enough to score Slack.

The lead became very much in jeopardy in the eight as MCC had the bases loaded with two outs against reliever Andres Kleinsek, who induced an inning-ending fielder's choice grounder handled by the middle infield. The righthander did surrender a solo home run in the top of the ninth. The game ended on a double to right that saw the Scots batter get caught in a rundown trying to stretch it into a triple.

Both teams finished with 11 hits in the game, and Johannes was tops for the Pack with a 3 for 5 effort that yielded a run scored and one batted in. Slack, a native of Viroqua, Wisconsin, had two hits and tied a season-high for runs scored with three. Shepard, a first year player from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was 2 for 2 with a walk, two runs scored, and one run driven in.

Hayes (8-0) remained perfect on the season with his eighth win as he struck out six batters over 6.1 innings. The lefty from Muskego, Wisconsin, was tagged for three run on seven hits and a pair of walks. Kasten worked a full inning and record a strikeout and two hits allowed. Kleinsek finished the final 1.2 innings, and gave up a run on two hits and a walk. 

Madison College is now 33-14-1 all-time over the Scots, including 7-2 in postseason meetings and wins in two of three meetings this season.

Up Next: 

Madison College (43-10) will play for its fifth straight Region 4 crown and 11th in the last 13 seasons Saturday against the winner of an elimination semifinal between Black Hawk College(37-23) and McHenry County College (44-11). First pitch is at noon at Robin Roberts Field, with the winner earning the region's automatic berth to the 2023 NJCAA Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma, from May 27-June 3.



Follow the tournament at Region4Tournament.com.

Watch all the games live at MadisonCollege.tv, and follow live stats of Madison College games via the GameChanger app.

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