PHOENIX, ARIZ. - A third try at taking down South Mountain Community College ended with a run-rule loss for the Madison College baseball team on Thursday as they dropped an 11-3 game in seven innings. The #17-ranked WolfPack held an early three-run lead before the #3-ranked Cougars rattled off 11-unanswered to secure their third head-to-head win in seven days.

Madison College came through with some clutch two-out hitting in the opening half inning. After James Duncan reached on an error, fellow sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso single to left field. Two batters later, Howie Rickett drew a walk to load the bases for freshman Tyler Butina, who lined a two-out double to the wall in right field to clear the bases for a 3-0 lead.



The advantage, however, was shortlived as South Mountain Community College (25-11) put four on the board in the home half of the first. A leadoff walk issued by starter Noah Musolf was followed by a double, a single, and a triple to make it 4-3. After recording a couple of outs, Musolf walked two more batters and was pulled for Chase Baker, who got out of the inning despite loading the bases with the fourth base on balls of the inning.

The Cougars added another run in the second, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth to make it a 9-3 differential. After a sixth inning run, SMCC walked off the run-rule victory in the seventh with a RBI single to left.

In all, the WolfPack used five pitchers, with Musolf (0-1) taking the loss in his second outing of the season. He was tagged for four runs on three hits and three walks in less than an inning. Baker tossed three-plus innings and surrendered two runs, three hits, and four walks. The lefthander from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, struck out three before turning the final two-plus innings over to Carter Lund, Miles Burchardt, and Ben Ketelsen. 

Madison College collected four hits at the plate. Butina, a Jefferson, Wisconsin, native and transfer from NCAA Division I Central Michigan University, used his lone hit to drive in a career-high three runs. Alonso finished with a hit and a run scored, while Ryan Santi and Quinn Falish produced the other two hits. 

Up Next:

Madison College (6-5) concludes its Arizona Spring Trip on Friday with a road game at Phoenix College (13-18). The WolfPack are 4-1 all-time against the Bears. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m. CT/noon AMT in Phoenix. The game can be watched and followed live via the GameChanger app.

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