CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL. - Madison College reached down deep to rally from a four-run deficit late in Wednesday's Region 4 game against McHenry County College, only to see the Scots come through with a 9-8 walk-off win to sweep the home-and-home series. The back-and-forth game featured two ties and two lead changes. The consecutive wins by MCC narrows the all-time series to 34-16-1 in favor of the WolfPack.

For the second consecutive day, Madison College grabbed an early lead off the bat of sophomore Charlie Marion. He followed back-to-back singles with a ground out to first, but an error on the play allowed Jalen Gellings to score.

McHenry County College (36-11) tied the game in the second with a lead off home run against starter Grant Ross.

The 1-1 tie remained until the WolfPack took advantage of the long ball in the top of the fourth. After Payton Frehner reached on an error, fellow second year Will Johannes smashed his ninth home run of the season. The two-run homer gave the Pack a 3-2 edge.

The lead didn't last long as the Scots loaded the bases on two hits and a walk before a single to right field drove in two and put MCC back in front by a 4-3 tally. The inning continued with the home team scoring three more runs to go up 7-3.

Madison got one run back in the fifth when Marion hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Nick Nowak, who led off the inning with a triple to the wall in center.

After the differential returned to four runs again in the bottom of the sixth, the WolfPack began their rally in the top of the eighth. With two runners on and two outs, Ross came through with his bat, lining a double to center to drive in Frehner and Johannes.

In the top of the ninth, a single and a walk put two runners on, and a sacrifice bunt moved both up 90 feet. Freshman Charlie Schau drove a single up the middle and Nowak and Jake Petasek raced in to score and tie the game at 8-8.

In the bottom of the ninth, McHenry County registered a one-out triple, and immediately followed with a walk-off, run-scoring single to win the game.

Johannes finished 1 for 3 with his 20th career home run. The Mukwonago, Wisconsin, native, tallied two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Gellings and Schau each had two hits, with the former scoring a run and the latter driving in two. Nowak also had two runs scored on one hit.

Ross finished 1 for 3 at the plate with two RBI, while also tossing four innings and striking out three. He was tagged for seven runs on nine hits and a walk.

Eli Hoyt worked a scoreless inning in relief and fanned two, while Ryan Karst was able to work 2.1 innings, giving up a run, two hits, and two walks with two K's. After Allen Leitner entered in the eighth and faced three batters with one srikeout, Sam Steuber came in for the final out of that inning. He then stayed in for the ninth, and ultimately gave up the game-winnning run on two hits. It resulted in his first collegiate loss as he is now 2-1 this season.

Up Next:

Madison College (27-11) plays their final road games of the regular season on Saturday, May 4 at South Suburban College (26-25). The all-time series with the Bulldogs is even through 46 meetings. Games are slated to begin at noon and 3:00 p.m. in South Holland, Illinois. Watch and follow live via the GameChanger app.

The WolfPack will close out the regular season at home on Sunday, May 5 with a 1x9 against Oakton College (18-28). The teams met earlier this season with the Pack taking an 11-0 win in seven innings to start their home-and-home series, as well as extend their all-time series lead to 18-13. First pitch at Robin Roberts Field is at noon, with a Sophomore Day ceremony to be conducted prior to the game. Watch live at MadisonCollege.TV and follow live via GameChanger.

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