FREEPORT, ILL. - A big inning early for Highland Community College resulted in a 5-1 loss in Region 4 competition for the Madison College baseball team. The WolfPack, ranked #17 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, were limited to just six hits as their five-game win streak came to a close, as well as a nine-game win streak over the Cougars. The all-time series still favors the Pack by a 44-7 margin. Thursday's game marked the 16th consecutive away from home to start the season for Madison College.

Highland Community College (5-8) seized an early advantage with a four-run bottom of the second against WolfPack starter Andres Kleinsek. A leadoff single followed by a double to center made it 1-0. The Cougars then loaded the bases with one out, and used a ground out to Payton Frehner at first to add another run. Another double to center brought two more runs in to complete the early scoring rally.

After stranding a pair of runners in the fourth inning, the WolfPack got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. A two-out double by freshman Sam Steuber was followed by a run-scoring triple to center off the bat of sophomore catcher Nick Nowak to make it a 4-1 differential. Madison College would leave runners at the corners, and proceed to also strand a pair of base runners in the sixth and eighth innings.

The WolfPack turned to freshman Camden Broske in the seventh inning in relief of Kleinsek, however, the righthander's second pitch was sent over the rightfield wall to make it 5-1.

Kleinsek (1-1) took his first loss of the season as the Fitchburg, Wisconsin, native, surrendered four earned runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out a pair of batters in his six innings before Broske took over for the final two frames. Broske gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk, while also fanning one.

No Madison College players was able to produce multiple hits in the game. Nowak had a hit and a run batted in, and Steuber had a hit and a run scored. Charlie Marion, Charlie Schau, Jake Petasek, and Jalen Gellings accounted for the remaining four hits.

Up Next:

Madison College (9-7) continues their long road swing on Friday, March 29 with a Region 4 doubleheader at Sauk Valley Community College (7-6). The WolfPack is 25-8 all-time against the Skyhawks, with wins in 15 straight meetings going back to 2007. First pitch in Dixon, Illinois, is set for 1:00 p.m., followed by an expected 4:00 p.m. start in the second game. Watch and follow live via the GameChanger app.

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