MADISON, WISC. - Saturday's Region 4 doubleheader at Robin Roberts Field provided plenty of drama and fireworks as Madison College picked up two wins over South Suburban College by scores of 3-2 and 8-4. Sophomore Jalen Gellings played the role of hero in the opener with a clutch three-run double in the sixth, while fellow second year Trace Kirchberg belted his first home run in nearly two full years as part of a big first inning in the nightcap. The #8-ranked WolfPack, who surpassed the 20-win plateau for the 32nd-consecutive season, lead the head-to-head series with the Bulldogs by a narrow 27-23 margin and have won six straight.

Game #1: #8 Madison College 3, South Suburban College 2

Offense was limited throughout much of the day's first game; however, Madison College did have some chances to put runs on the board early. The WolfPack left two runners on in the first, second, and fourth innings. 

South Suburban College, which had one hit through four innings and nearly scored a run in the third when right fielder Nate Novinska threw out a runner at home, took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. A leadoff double and a single put runners on the corners with no outs, and a sacrifice fly scored the game's first run. Pitchers Quinn Falish and Landon Dessart each recorded an out to end the threat and limit the damage. 

In the bottom of the sixth, three walks loaded the bases and brought Jalen Gellings to the plate with two outs. The shortstop from Eden, Wisconsin, delivered with a line drive double to left field that cleared the bases for a 3-1 lead. The base hit also extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games.

Following a trio of walks by Dessart in the top of the seventh to put the tying and winning runs on base, sophomore Carson Klaus was brought in to try and close out the win, which he did with the help of the defense behind him. Left fielder Chris Calico chased down a line drive left center, and the WolfPack were able to double up the runner at second who had failed to tag up. The play did score a run to make it 3-2, but more importantly, put two outs on the board. In an attempt to get the tying run into scoring position, the Bulldogs attempted to steal second, but catcher Howie Rickett caught him stealing to end the game.



Falish, a freshman from De Pere, Wisconsin, worked 4.2 innings as the starter and held SSC to a single run on three hits and two walks. He also struck out two batters. Dessart (3-0) got the win after allowing a run on a hit and three walks in his inning-and-a-third, which included a pair of K's. Klaus, a former Adams-Friendship HS athlete, picked up his first career save with a scoreless inning. 

Both teams finished with four hits in the game, with none bigger than Gellings' double the resulted in three runs batted in. Calico added a hit and a run scored to his impressive defensive work. 

Game #1: #8 Madison College 8, South Suburban College 4

In game two, Madison College (21-7) exploded out of the gates with a six-run first inning. Sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso followed Beau Bloxdorf's single with a triple to center for a 1-0 lead. Fellow second year Charlie Schau then doubled to make it 2-0, and he eventually scored when Nate Novinska single to right. A productive ground out to the right side by Chris Calico brought in Ryan Santi for a 4-0 lead ahead of Trace Kirchberg's two-run homer to give the home team a half-dozen run advantage. Kirchberg, who missed last season due to injury, had not hit a home run since blasting two in one game on May 7, 2023. 

South Suburban College (23-10) got two runs back in the second with two hits sandwiched around a walk. The differential went to 7-2 in the third when freshman Jack Bauer singled in Novinska. The Bulldogs continue to battle back, and tallied another two-run single in the fourth to cut it to 7-4. The game's final run came in the home half of the fourth when a bases loaded wild pitch allowed Schau to touch home.

Novinska posted two hits, two walks, two runs scored, and a run batted in to lead the offensive charge. Fellow Bloxdorf also had two hits in the game, leading to a run scored. 

Schau tied for team-high honors with two runs scored, to go along with a hit and a RBI. Kirchberg had a hit, a run, and a two driven in. Alonso finished with one hit, one run, and one RBI.

Starter Ben Kasten (3-1) earned his third consecutive win. The righthander from Greenfield, Wisconsin, surrendered four runs on nine hits and two walks, while also striking out three batters. Braycen Burg struck out one and scattered two hits in 2.1 scoreless innings before Sam Steuber tossed the final two-thirds-of-an-inning.



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