ENID, OKLA. - Saturday's first round meeting between #5-seed Madison College and #12-seed Lackawanna College at the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series was not short on drama and suspense. The WolfPack used a three-run seventh inning, capped by a clutch go-ahead double by Tyler Butina, before Carter Lund closed the door on a narrow 7-6 win. The victory in the first-ever meeting with the Falcons, sends the WolfPack into the second round at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

Lackawanna College took the game's first lead with a run in the top of the first against starter Axel Donaldson. Two singles sandwiched around an error made it 1-0. 

The WolfPack assumed their first in the bottom of the second when they loaded the bases with one out. Jalen Gellings lined a single to center to drive in Howie Rickett, and Chris Calico followed with another single through the left side that plated Ryan Santi for a 2-1 advantage. 

The lead grew to 3-1 in the third with a sacrifice fly by Rickett to bring home Butina; however, the Falcons answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to even the score. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Donaldson loaded the bases on an error and two walks, and was replaced by Braycen Burg. A two-run single made it 3-3 before Burg ended the inning.

Both teams added a run in their respective half of the fifth inning, with Lackawanna getting a solo home run in the top before Nate Novinska crossed home in the bottom half thanks to an error on a ball hit by Gellings.

The momentum continued for the Falcons, who pulled ahead 6-4 in the top of the sixth, using a walk, a single, and a double against Burg and Chase Baker. 

A new pitcher for Lackwanna College in the home half of the seventh breathed new life into the WolfPack as pinch hitter Trace Kirchberg drew a leadoff walk. After another pitching change, Jalen Gellings singled ahead of a sac fly by Calico to pull the Pack within a run. A passed ball during the subsequent at bat scored Gellings and the game was tied at 6-6. The fourth error of the game by the Falcons put Marcelino Edison Alonso aboard and kept the inning alive for Butina. The Jefferson, Wisconsin, native delivered a two-out double to the wall in right center, deep enough for Alonso to race all the way around from third to score the go-ahead run.



"I've been trying to be better and more calm during at bats," stated Butina after the game. "I actually slowed my swing down, maybe only swung at about 75% and it worked out."

The drama, however, was far from over. Lackwanna College registered back-to-back, two-out singles, prompting coach Mike Davenport to bring in Nick West to induce an inning-ending fielder's choice. Sam Moses started the top of the ninth, and after a pair of walks, was relieved by Carter Lund, and the first year arm from Cambridge, Wisconsin, retired the final two batters to end the game and earn his second save of the season.

The WolfPack were out hit 12-10 and left a dozen runners on base over the first six innings. The trio of Gellings, Charlie Schau, and Rickett each produced two hits in the game. Gellings' hits yielded two runs batted in and a run scored, while Rickett tallied one run and one RBI.

Calico finished with a hit and two runs driven in, and Butina added a run scored and a RBI on a hit and three walks. Both Alonso and Novinska had a hit and scored a run.

Madison College used six arms in the game. Donaldson went 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out one. Burg was also tagged for three runs on three hits with a walk and a K. Baker (5-1) was credited with the win as the Mukwonago, Wisconsin, native held the Falcons scoreless on six hits and a walk during his 2.1 innings.

"It wasn't pretty but it was a win, that's all that matters," said Davenport, whose WolfPack teams are now 24-26 all-time in Enid. "Carter was huge for use at the end after having not pitched in a while, and Butina's hit was clutch after we missed on so many opportunities."

NJCAA Photo Gallery - First Round - Lackawanna College vs. Madison College

Up Next: 

Madison College (44-9) advances to the second round of the double-elimination tournament and will take on #4-seed Heartland Community College (46-14). The WolfPack is 3-2 all-time against the Hawks, including World Series wins in 2022 and 2012. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen via the NJCAA Network.

2025 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series Information

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