PHOENIX, ARIZ. - The Madison College baseball team had it all working on Friday, resulting in an 11-1 win in a run-rule-shortened seven innings against Western Nebraska Community College. The victory is the third straight for the WolfPack since arriving in the desert, and was keyed by a stellar pitching performance by sophomores Broden Jackson and Chase Baker, who combined to strike out 14 batters. Madison now owns a 5-1 record all-time against WNCC.

Madison College had the bases loaded with no out in the bottom of the first and failed to score a run. That was just about the only thing that didn't go in their favor during the scheduled nine-inning game.

A double by shortstop Eason started the second inning, and after a balk moved him to third, freshman Casey Wambach drove him in with a ground out to the second baseman. Easton Engel, a freshman from Abrams, Wisconsin, followed with a single, stole second base, and reached third on a base knock by JJ Wolbert. During the subsequent at bat, the Cougars pitcher uncorked a wild pitch to score Engel. Nate Novinska capped the inning with a run-scoring triple to center to make it 3-0. 

Facing a new pitcher in the fourth, the WolfPack scored on a WNCC error and back-to-back run-scoring ground outs to stretch the differential to 6-0. 

Western Nebraska Community College (8-19) got on the board in the fifth thanks to a single and an error; however, a five-run bottom of the sixth put the Pack in position to secure the run-ruled win. Catcher Nate Novinska raced home on a wild pitch and Hurd brought in Sam Moses with a sacrifice fly. The scoring was capped in a big way when Engel smashed his first collegiate home run with a three-run blast to left, scoring Quinn Falish and Wambach.



While the offense was producing runs, Jackson and Baker were dominating on the hill. Jackson, a righthander from Janesville, Wisconsin, struck out a career-high eight batters over five innings for his first win of the season and fourth of his career. He allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk before handing the ball to Baker to two near perfect innings as he struck out six of the seven batters he faced.

Engel, finished 2 for 4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored to establish new career-bests in all three categories.

Wolbert posted two hits and a walk en route to scoring two runs, while White had one run scored off his two hits and base on balls. 

Novinska produced a hit, a RBI, and two runs scored. Moses, Hurd, and Wambach all had one hit, one run driven in, and one run scored.

Up Next:

Madison College (4-2) will play a neutral site doubleheader on Saturday, March 14 against Williston State College (24-7). The WolfPack is 30-5 all-time against the Tetons. Game time for the opener is set for 1:00 p.m. CT/11:00 a.m. APT. Stats and live video can be found via the GameChanger app.

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