ELGIN, ILL. - The Madison College baseball team busted out the big bats Friday as they used four home runs to register an 11-5 road victory over Elgin Community College for their second consecutive Region 4 victory and third straight overall. Freshman Nate  Novinska led the charge with two home runs, including a grand slam, and was joined by sophomores Jalen Gellings and James Duncan as part of the home run parade. The Pack has won ten in a row over the Spartans and boasts a 37-21 lead in the all-time series.

The home run balls were flying early as the WolfPack pounded two over the fence in the second inning. After Chris Calico was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half, Duncan sent a line drive over the right field wall for a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Novinska went yard for the first time in his collegiate career with a solo shot to left to make it a three-run advantage. Elgin Community College (8-5) got one run back in the home half with a two-out single that drove in a run.

Duncan posted another run batted in in the top of the third when he stepped to the plate with two on and two out. The lefthanded hitting first baseman grounded a single up the middle and Tyler Butina raced in from second to score for a 4-1 lead. 

Gellings added his name to the home run list with a lead off bomb to left in the fifth. The home run marks the first of the season and second of his career. Later in the frame, with the bases loaded and two outs, the Spartans changed pitchers ahead of Novinska coming to bat, and he drew a walk to force in Butina for a 6-1 differential. The lead was cut to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth with two runs for ECC off a walk and back-to-back doubles.



Still a three-run game in the eighth, JJ Wolbert came through with a sacrifice fly to plate Sam Moses. In the ninth, three straight walks filled the bases a second time for Novinska, and the Verona, Wisconsin, native, delivered with a two-out grand slam to center to make it an 11-3 ball game. The Spartans did tack on two more runs in the ninth before a fly ball to Calico in left ended the game.

Novinska finished a career-best 3 for 4 at the plate with two homers, a single, and a walk. He scored three runs and becomes the 19th-player in program history to drive in six runs or more in a game. Duncan, a former Arrowhead HS athlete, was 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Calico also posted a pair of hits and crossed home twice. Butina led the way with three runs scored thanks to three walks.

Noah Marschke got the start and worked 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk. The lefty from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, struck out five batters before giving way to Landon Dessart (1-0) in relief. Dessart, a product of Union Grove, Wisconsin, earned the win thanks to 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball with four K's and one walk. Carson Klaus and Sam Steuber combined to pitch the final inning-and-a-third.

Up Next:

Madison College (9-5) will play at Robin Roberts Field for the first time in 2025 on Tuesday, April 1 with their home opener against Region 4 and in-state rival Bryant & Stratton College (4-14). The WolfPack owns an 11-3 record against the Bobcats since the two programs began playing in 2018. First pitch of the opener is set for 2:00 p.m., followed by an approximate 5:00 p.m. start for the nightcap. The game's will stream live at MadisonCollege.tv, with live stats available via the GameChanger app.

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