GLEN ELLYN, ILL. - The Madison College baseball team overcame the College of DuPage in a back-and-forth Region 4 contest Tuesday, earning a 10-6 victory for their a season-high seventh straight win. Tyler Butina was part of an offensive attack that produced ten runs and ten hits, with the freshman finishing a triple away from the cycle. The victory gives the WolfPack, who moved up to #5 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll on Monday, a 32-5-1 lead in the all-time series with the Chaparrals.

After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Madison College broke through for four runs in the second, and they did so with four extra base hits. Sophomore Trace Kirchberg got things going with a double to center, and after a Jack Bauer single, Kirchberg scored on a sacrifice bunt from Jalen Gellings. The WolfPack then produced three straight run-scoring doubles as Nate Novinska, Charlie Schau, and Butina all safely reached second as the lead grew.

The College of DuPage (11-18) answered right back with three runs in the second, taking advantage of two hits, two free passes, and an error. A two-run home run in the third inning off starter Broden Jackson put the Chaps ahead 5-4.

The WolfPack tied the game at 5-5 a half inning later when sophomore Howie Rickett singled up the middle to drive in Schau, who had opened the frame with a line drive base hit to center.

The game remained even until the top of the sixth, when the Pack bats produced three more runs. Back-to-back hit by pitches and a Butina single loaded the bases for Rickett, whose fielder's choice grounder to shortstop scored Novinska to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. Schau later scored on a wild pitch, and a Chris Calico fielder's choice bunt allowed Rickett to cross home to make it 8-5. 

After COD used a sacrifice fly to make it an 8-6 game in the bottom half, Madison College put the finishing touches on the final score with a two-run homer from Butina. The Jeffernson, Wisconsin, native smashed his third of the season over the right field wall for a four-run advantage.



Butina finished 3 for 5 with three runs batted in and another run scored. The transfer from Central Michigan University now boasts three games with three hits and four with three RBI.

Schau, hitting ahead of Butina in the lineup, was 2 for 4 with a team-best four runs scored, which ties a career-high. The Park Ridge, Illinois, native, also drove in a run.

Novinska finished with two runs scored and one batted in on one hit, while Rickett tallied a hit, a run scored, and two RBI. For the game, the No. 1 through 5 hitters in the lineup combined for eight hits, eight runs, and eight runs batted in.

On the hill, Jackson worked three innings and allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on five hits and a walk. Fellow freshman Sam Moses (1-0) took over and earned his first career victory with three innings of one-run baseball. He did not allow a hit and walked one. A third first year arm, Carter Lund, earned his first career save with three scoreless innings in which he scattered three hits.



Up Next:

Madison College (23-7) is home on Wednesday, April 16 for a Region 4 doubleheader against Highland Community College (22-21). Despite a split of two games last season, the WolfPack own a 45-7 record all-time against the Cougars. First pitch of the opener is set for 2:00 p.m., with game two to follow at approximately 5:00 p.m. at Robin Roberts Field. The games will stream live at MadisonCollege.tv and can also be followed via the GameChanger app.

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