MADISON, WISC. - Tuesday's Region 4 clash between Madison College and Rock Valley College saw the visiting Golden Eagles put together one big inning and a stellar pitching performance en route to a 6-4 win at Robin Roberts Field. The WolfPack, who moved up to #8 in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll, had several chances to close the gap or take the lead in the final innings; however, the finished the game with 16 strikeouts. The loss snaps a six-game winning streak for the Pack, and narrows the all-time series lead to 42-23 ahead of Thursday's home-and-home series rematch in Illinois.

Sticking with recent trends, Madison College used a little small ball to manufacture a first inning run to take the early lead. Jalen Gellings, a sophomore from Eden, Wisconsin, lined a leadoff single to center and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by James Duncan. After Gellings stole third, Marcelino Edison Alonso hit a ground out to short, allowing Gellings to race home. 

Rock Valley College, who is also receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Poll, pulled even in the top of the third. A single and a walk put runners at second and first, and a double steal attempt saw freshman catcher Nate Novinska throw out attempt bounce wide of third and continue down the left field line as the runner continued on to home.

The Golden Eagles exploded for five runs in the fifth to take command of the game. A run-scoring single and a run-scoring double made it 3-1 and left two runners on for the RVC cleanup hitter, who swept the bases clear with a three-run home run to left to make it 6-1.

The WolfPack found themselve with many scoring chances over the second half of the game. They stranded runners on second and third in the fifth when Duncan grounded out to first, and another runner at second in the seventh inning when JJ Wolbert was called out on strikes.



Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs to start the eighth inning for the home team, and a wild pitch brought Gellings home to make it 6-2, while also moving the other two runners into scoring position. They would remain there as the next three batters all went down swinging.

Down to their final outs, the WolfPack put together another comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth. An error and two hit batters again filled the bases with no outs, and again a wild pitch scored a run for a 6-3 tally. Gellings produced a run-scoring ground out to short that drove in Beau Bloxdorf for a 6-4 differential. Two batters later, Alonso was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base with two outs for freshman Tyler Butina. The transfer from Central Michigan University ended the game with a line drive to the center fielder. 

The 16 strikeouts by WolfPack batters is the most this season being punched out 16 times in a game at Central Arizona College in March 2018. Gellings led the offense with two hits and a walk, leading to two runs scored and one driven in. Chris Calico and Bloxdorf each had a hit and scored a run. Duncan recorded the team's fifth hit, while Alonso recorded a RBI.

Starting pitcher Mason Sherman worked 3.2 innings and allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk. The righthander from Waukesha, Wisconsin, struck out a career-best five batters before giving way to fellow first year Chase Baker (2-1), who suffered his first loss of the season after giving up five runs, four of which were earned, on four hits. He struck out two in his 2.1 innings. Sophomore Carson Klaus took over for the final three innings, and kept RVC off the scoreboard with five K's and just three hits allowed.

Up Next:

Madison College (16-7) and Rock Valley College (23-6) will play another nine-inning contest on Thursday, April 10 in Rockford, Illinois. The Region 4 game will start at 2:00 p.m., and can be watched and followed via the GameChanger app.

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