MADISON, WISC. - No runs given up, seven hits allowed, and 11 strikeouts over 12 innings is the final combined stat line two Madison College pitchers as they propelled the #5-ranked WolfPack to a Region 4 doubleheader sweep of Highland Community College on Wednesday at Robin Roberts Field. Freshman Noah Marschke claimed victory in a 2-0 pitcher's duel in the day's opener before fellow first year Axel Donaldson took advantage of some early run-support in a 10-0 run-ruled decision in the finale. Madison College, winners of nine straight games overall, now boasts a 47-7 all-time record against the Cougars.

Game #1: #5 Madison College 2, Highland Community College 0

Offense was at a premium in the opener, which remained scoreless through three-and-a-half innings. Madison College took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Marcelino Edison Alonso singled up the middle, stole second, advance to third on a fly out to center, and then scored on a dropped third strike passed ball. 

The small advantage grew to 2-0 in the fifth. Back-to-back singles by JJ Wolbert and Jalen Gellings put runners at the corners for Nate Novinska, and the freshman's bunt down the first base line allowed Wolbert to come in and score.

The rest of the game belonged to Marschke, who entered the game with 22 strikeouts over his previous 13-plus innings, set down ten batters via strike out and allowed just two hits as he improved to 3-0. The native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, did allow three free passes with two walks and one hit batter.



The WolfPack hitters were also limited in the game, amassing just four hits. Alonso and Wolbert each had a hit and scored a run, while Gellings and Tyler Butina posted the other two base knocks. Novinska and Charlie Schau were each credited with a run batted in despite not getting a hit.

Game #2: #5 Madison College 10, Highland Community College 0 (5 innings)

The Madison College bats produced some runs early in the nightcap, and kept producing as the game went on against five different Highland Community College (22-23) pitchers. The runs began with back-to-back solo home runs by freshman Nate Novinska and sophomore Marcelino Edison Alonso, marking their seventh and sixth homers, respectively, this season. The WolfPack added a third run with a pair of two-out singles sandwiched around a walk. Chris Calico drove in Howie Rickett on a ground ball back up the middle.

An error to start the second inning allowed Jalen Gellings to reach safely, and two batters later, he crossed home as Novinska's second extra base hit of the game made it 4-0. Calico's second plate appearance came in the leadoff spot of the bottom of the third, and he drove a triple off the top of the wall in right center. A wild pitch during the next at bat made it a 5-0 game.

The WolfPack closed out the game with a five-run bottom of the fifth that saw the Cougars use two pitches, allowing five free passes and two hits. After drawing a walk and advancing on a hit batter, Calico took off on a steal of third, resulting in an errant throw from the pitcher and Calico coming in to score. Novinska tacked on two more RBI with a hard grounder through the right side to plate James Duncan and Gellings. Another wild pitch with the bases loaded made it 9-0, and a walk of Sam Moses re-loaded the base paths for Calico. The second year from West Salem, Wisconsin, registered his third hit of the game with a base knock to right to drive in Alonso for the walk-off run-ruled win.

Calico and Novinska each racked up three hits, with the former also posting a walk, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. He currently has six multi-hit games this season. Novinska, a former Verona Area HS athlete, drove in four runs and scored another. He now owns six games with three RBI or more, including three games with at least four. Alonso and Gellings both finished with a hit and two runs, with Alonso also earning one RBI.

Righthander Axel Donaldson (3-0) won his third consecutive start, during which he has not allowed a single run and has struck out 13 batters over 15 innings. On Wednesday, he scattered five hits, two walks, and one hit batter in five innings with one K. 



Up Next:

Madison College (25-7) plays at the College of Lake County (12-23) on Thursday, April 17 for one, nine-inning game in Region 4 competition. The WolfPack, who swept the Lancers in Madison by scores of 6-0 and 5-2 on April 6, are 37-8 all-time against the Lancers. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. in Grayslake, Illinois, and can be watched and followed live via the GameChanger app.

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