MADISON, WISC. - Top-seeded Madison College withstood serious threats from Elgin Community College - and some lightning - to claim a 10-6 victory in a Region 4 Tournament semifinal Friday at Robin Roberts Field. Sophomores Jalen Gellings, last year's tournament most valuable player, and Marcelino Edison Alonso led the offensive attack with half of the team's hits. The win gives the Pack a 38-21 edge all-time over the #3-seeded Spartans, including a 7-2 lead in postseason meetings.

Madison College broke a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth when Alonso followed a leadoff hit-by-pitch of Howie Rickett with a double to the wall in right center. Rickett went from first to home to put the Pack on the board. Tyler Butina then delivered a single up the middle to plate Alonso for a 2-0 advantage.

Butina racked up another run batted in during the fifth inning, lining a double to center to score Gellings. 



The WolfPack seemed to pull away from ECC in the sixth with three more runs for a 6-0 lead. Sophomore Chris Calico's double to center drove in Ryan Santi, and then Calico scored on a two-out single from Gellings. After a pitching change and a hit batter, Alonso smacked another base hit through the left side allowing Gellings to touch home.

Elgin Community College answered right back in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs with two outs to tie the game. Second year arm Carson Klaus took over for starter Axel Donaldson, and with the bases loaded allowed a run-scoring single. A subsequent single on a ground ball back up the middle cleared the bases to make it 6-4. Following a 45-minute lightning delay, freshman Sam Moses took over on the hill, and gave up three more hits as the Spartans tacked on two more runs to complete the rally.

The even score didn't last long, with Madison College taking advantage of some new hurlers for the Spartans in the bottom half. With two on and one out, Gellings delivered a clutch double to drive in Nate Novinska and JJ Wolbert to put the Pack back on top. Two batters later, Alonso drew a bases-loaded walk for a three-run cushion. Another insurance run was added after yet another pitching change, setting up Butina for a RBI opportunity and he took advantage with a ground out to second to score Gellings.



Moses (2-0) remained in the game to work a 1-2-3 eighth and strand two runners on base in the ninth for the win. The Cedarburg, Wisconsin, native, allowed one run on three hits over 2.1 innings. He tied a career-high with four strikeouts. Donaldson strung together 6.1 solid innings, giving up just one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out five before giving way to Klaus. 

Gellings, a native of Eden, Wisconsin, finished 3 for 5 with a team-high three runs scored and three runs batted in. It's his fourth game this season with three or more hits, third game with three runs scored, and second game with three RBI. 

Alonso came through with three runs batted in on a 3 for 4 effort with one run scored. The former Reedsburg HS athlete now boasts eight games with three or more hits and six games with at least three RBI. Butina also posted three runs driven in as part of a 2 for 4 game at the plate, giving the Jefferson, Wisconsin, native, his eighth game three or more RBI.

Calico finished with two hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in, while Wolbert scored two runs despite not registering an at bat.

Up Next: 

Madison College (42-9) advances to the Region 4 Tournament final for the eighth straight year and 14th time since 2010. The six-time defending champions will play the winner of the elimination semifinal between #2-seeded Kankakee Community College (46-9) and #3-seed Elgin Community College (41-13). First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. at Robin Roberts Field. All games will stream live at MadisonCollege.TV and tickets are available via GoFan. 



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