RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The Madison College baseball team began the Region 4 portion of the 2025 schedule with a resounding 13-3 win in eight innings over Triton College on Thursday, giving the #17-ranked WolfPack a total of 32 runs and 39 hits over the last two outings. Sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso and freshman Tyler Butina, who were the No. 3 & 4 hitters in the lineup against the Trojans, each fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle as they combined to go 8 for 9 with seven runs batted in and four runs scored. The victory gives the Pack a 31-21 lead in the all-time series, with another doubleheader between the two program's scheduled for April 19 in Madison.

Host Triton College (4-16) made the first bit of noise with a diving catch of a line drive from JJ Wolbert by the center fielder in the game's opening at bat. The top of the first ended with the Trojans throwing out James Duncan trying to score from second on a Butina single. In the bottom half, a WolfPack error and a Triton College single put the home team up 1-0 against starter Quinn Falish.

The Madison College outfield made a highlight reel play of their own in the second inning when second year left fielder Chris Calico raced back on a well-hit line drive and made a leaping catch at the top of the wall as he crashed into it, taking away a potential home run. The Trojans did make it a 2-0 game in the third when two singles sandwiched around a Falish balk pushed across another run.

The WolfPack offense began to heat up quickly in the top of the fourth inning. After Duncan led off with a walk, Alonso ripped a line drive home run to left field to tie the score at 2-2. The long ball is his second of the season and fourth of his career.



Still 2-2 in the sixth, Butina followed an Alonso double with a ground out deep in the hole at second. Alonso raced around third and may have been out at home; however, the Triton catcher dropped the ball to give the Pack a lead they would not relinquish.

A three-run seventh put Madison College in full control. With two runners on, Wolbert dropped down a bunt single to drive in Sam Moses, and Jalen Gellings followed with a run-scoring single to right that plated Beau Bloxdorf. Alonso capped the inning with a two-out base hit to center that saw Wolbert touch home for a 6-2 advantage. 

After the Trojans tacked on a run in the seventh, the WolfPack ended the game in the eighth with seven more runs. Bloxdorf followed a Novinska triple with a RBI-single, and after Wolbert walked, Gellings drove in Bloxdorf with his second base knock of the day. With the bases loaded, Alonso put the finishing touches on his masterpiece at the plate with a bases-clearing single to center that was misplayed and allowed him to reach third. Three pitches later, Butina's big day ended with a two-run blast into the wind in right field to put Madison College up by ten.



Alonso, a native of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, continued his scorching start to the season with a career-best 5 for 5 day at the plate with three singles, a double, and a home run. He drove in four runs for the second time this season and scored three times for the third time in 2025. So far, Alonso has hit safely in nine of the 11 games he's played in, and leads the team with a .548 average, 23 hits, 17 runs scored, and 12 RBI. The batting average currently ranks second in all of NJCAA Division II baseball.

Butina supported that effort with a 3 for 4 afternoon that saw the Jefferson, Wisconsin, native, drive in three runs and score another. Bloxdorf also went 3 for 4 in the ninth spot, resulting in two runs and a RBI for the former Union Grove HS athlete.

Gellings and Duncan both enjoyed two hits in the win, with the former producing two runs batted in and a run scored, and the latter touching home twice. In all, the Nos. 9 through 5 in the lineup accounted for 16 of the 19 hits.

On the mound, Falish, a product of De Pere, Wisconsin, tossed a strong six innings with two runs, one of which was earned, on six hits. He struck out a career-best six to improve to 2-0 in as many appearances. Alex Donaldson and Broden Jackson each pitched an inning in relief, with Donaldson giving up a run on two hits and Jackson fanning one batter.



Up Next:

Madison College (8-5) takes a two-game win streak to Elgin Community College (8-4) for another Region 4 matchup. The all-time series with the Spartans stands at 36-21 in favor of the WolfPack, who have won nine straight in the series. First pitch of the 1x9 is at 2:00 p.m. in Elgin, Illinois. The game can be watched and followed live via the GameChanger app.

Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook | Twitter