COOLIDGE, ARIZ. - Madison College baseball appeared well on their way to a convincing road win over a NJCAA Division I program on Tuesday when a five-run lead in the seventh inning disappeared, resulting in a 9-8 setback against Central Arizona College. The WolfPack, who fell to #17 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll on Monday, are now 1-7 all-time against the Vaqueros.

Neither team was able to generate much offense for the game's first three innings, until Madison College pushed two runs across in the top of the fourth. Beau Bloxdorf reached on an error, and after a walk of Sam Moses, sophomore Howie Rickett doubled to right field to bring in Bloxdorf. Tyler Butina then entered the game in place of sophomore Trace Kirchberg, and the freshman immediately came through with a sacrifice fly to center good enough to score Moses from third.

Central Arizona College (19-10) answered with two of their own in the home half, using a leadoff single  and back-to-back, two-out extra base hits to tie the game up at 2-2.

The fifth inning started with the WolfPack loading the bases on a single and two walks, and after a 5-2-3 double play, sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso hit a ground ball that resulted in an error on the third baseman. The miscue allowed Jack Bauer and JJ Wolbert to race around the bases and make it a 4-2 lead.

Another Vaqueros error in the sixth inning put the Pack up three runs. With Moses aboard at third after a leadoff double and a Rickett single, freshman outfielder Nate Novinska's ground ball ended with an error by the shortstop to bring in Moses for a 5-2 differential. 

A walk, a hit, and a wild pitch to open the seventh put runners in scoring position with nobody out for Madison College, who took full advantage with back-to-back sacrifice flies from Moses and Ricket, scoring Bloxdorf and Alonso to expand the lead to a game-high five runs at 7-2.

Central Arizona College, however, turned the tide with a three-run bottom of the seventh against Ben Kasten. Nick West took over after a single and a triple in the eighth inning closed the WolfPack lead to a single run at 7-6. A sacrifice fly tied the game at 7-7, and then two singles and a double thrust the Vaqueros into a 9-7 advantage.

Playing from behind for the first time, but also facing their final three outs, Madison College started the top of the ninth inning fast with a JJ Wolbert double and a Bloxdorf single. After strike outs of Alonso and Moses, Rickett drew a walk to load the bases and Butina was hit by a pitch to force in Wolbert. Trailing by one and with the tying run 90-feet from home, Novinska popped out to the third baseman to end the game.

Three players, Bloxdorf, Rickett, and Chris Calico, finished with a team-leading two hits each. Rickett drove in two runs - as did Butina - while Bloxdord scored two times. Wolbert and Moses each had a hit and two runs scored, with Moses also driving in a run.

Starter Axel Donaldson did not factor into the decision. The righthander from De Pere, Wisconsin, worked four innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. He also struck out three before Kasten entered for 3.1 innings on the hill. The second year arm was tagged for five runs, six hits, a walk, and a K. West (0-2) took the loss after giving up two runs and four hits.

Up Next:

Madison College (5-4) continues play on Wednesday with a 1x9 against GateWay Community College (7-20) at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Arizona. The Geckos own a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series with the WolfPack. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT/3:00 p.m. AMT. The game can be watched and followed live via the GameChanger app.

Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook | Twitter