CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL. - Madison College narrowly earned a 2-0 win over McHenry County College on Tuesday to begin a Region 4 home-and-home baseball series. Pitchers Axel Donaldson, Broden Jackson, and Nick West combined to keep the Scots off the scoreboard and limited to just five hits and five walks. The #12-ranked WolfPack lead the all-time series by a 35-16-1 margin heading into Sunday's regular season finale.

Madison College was unable to come up with any clutch hits in the first two innings, leaving a runner stranded on second each time. That changed in the third after Howie Rickett drew a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Jalen Gellings. Freshman Nate Novinska delivered a line drive base hit to center and Rickett raced in to score for a 1-0 lead.

The WolfPack got a little breathing room in the seventh, thanks so some erratic MCC pitching. After a leadoff walk to Tyler Butina, Chris Calico reached on a bunt single. Three batters later, and with two outs on the board, Rickett drew another walk to load the bases and Gellings forced in a run with a free pass of his own for a 2-0 advantage. 

McHenry County College (33-16) missed some chances to put runs on the board, stranding two runners in scoring position in the third, two more runners in the fourth, and runners at the corners in the seventh. 

Donaldson (5-0) remained perfect on the season with six scoreless innings that included four hits, three walks, and one hit batter. The De Pere, Wisconsin, native struck out three batters ahead of two strong innings of relief from Jackson, a righthander from Janesville, Wisconsin. He allowed a hit and two walks, while striking out two batters. Sophomore Nick West worked a three-up, three-down ninth inning to pick up his team-leading third save of the season. 

Three different WolfPack hitters registered two hits in the game. Novinska finished with two hits and a run batted in, while Calico and Beau Bloxdorf each had a pair of base knocks. The only other hit belonged to Marcelino Edison Alonso.

Up Next: 

Madison College (34-9) will host a Region 4 doubleheader on Thursday, May 1 against Elgin Community College (34-11), who recently entered the NJCAA Division II Poll at #23. The WolfPack are 37-21 all-time against the Spartans and have won ten straight meetings. First pitch at Robin Roberts Field is set for 2:00 p.m. in game one, followed by an approximate 5:00 p.m. start to the nightcap. Watch live at MadisonCollege.tv and follow live stats via the GameChanger app.

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