CHANDLER, ARIZ. - The first game in the desert did not go as planned for the Madison College baseball team, which dropped an 8-1 contest against Western Nebraska Community College in a neutral site matchup. The day's second game against host Chandler-Gilbert Community College was delayed and then canceled due to lightning during the first inning after the WolfPack had already plated a pair of runs. Madison College, ranked #13 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, is now 3-1 all-time against the Cougars and will play another game against WNCC on Friday to make up for the lost game.

Western Nebraska Community College struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff double against starter Ben Kasten, the Cougars used a ground out to advance the runner and a sacrifice fly to bring him in for a 1-0 lead.

Still a one-run game in the fourth inning, the WolfPack pulled even on two hits and an error. Sophomore rightfielder James Duncan reached on an error with two outs by the WNCC third baseman. Second year designated hitter Trace Kirchberg, playing his game since the 2023 NJCAA Division II World Series after missing last season due to injury, lined a double to right and scored Duncan.

The Cougars answered back with a two-spot in the home half, using two hits and two walks to go up 3-1. The game turned in WNCC's favor in the sixth after the WolfPack failed to score with runners at the corners and one out. Western Nebraska used an error on third baseman Charlie Schau to ignite a five-run inning that saw three hits, two free passes, and three errors to take an 8-1 lead.

Sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso led the offense with a 2 for 3 day at the plate. The Reedsburg, Wisconsin, native has six hits in his first eight at bats of the season. Kirchberg had a hit and a run batted in, while Duncan logged the only run scored. 

Kasten (0-1) took the loss after four innings of work the resulted in three earned runs on three hits and two walks. The sophomore from Greenfield, Wisconsin, struck out nine before giving way to Sam Moses for an inning-and-two-thirds. Moses surrendered five runs, only one of which was earned, three hits, and two walks. He fanned four batters. Ben Ketelson worked the final three batters and allowed a walk.

Up Next:

Madison College (1-1) will play another split doubleheader in Arizona on Friday, March 14, starting with another seven-inning contest against Western Nebraska Community College (9-10). That game will be played at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. The WolfPack will then take on the host and #5-ranked Cougars for a nine-inning affair. It will mark the first meeting all-time against SMCC, with a second slated for Thursday, March 20. First pitch against Western Nebraska is set for noon CT/10:00 a.m. AMT, with the South Mountain CC game to begin at 4:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. AMT. Both games can be live streamed and followed via the GameChanger app.

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