DIXON, ILL. - The Madison College offense has come to life in the month of April as the team recorded double-digit hits for the third time in their last four outings during Thursday's 14-5 Region 4 victory at Sauk Valley Community College. Sophomore JJ Wolbert led the charge with a career-high four hits as the #8-ranked WolfPack racked up 16 hits for the second time during that stretch. The win gives Madison College a 28-8 lead in the all-time series with 18 consecutive wins over the Skyhawks, who they will host for a doubleheader on April 24.

In their second time through the batting order, the WolfPack bats produced four runs and four hits in the top of the third inning to break a scoreless game. Matt Gruber led off with a walk, and was joined on the bases after singles from Wolbert and Beau Bloxdorf. Corner infielder Ian Salvesen drove in two runs with a single to right to put the first runs of the game on the scoreboard. After a productive groundout by Nate Novinska brought in Bloxdorf, sophomore right fielder Sam Moses drove a base hit to center to make it 4-0 as Salvesen touched home.

Three straight singles, including two on bunts, got the fourth inning started and a wild pitch scored Braylen White. Novinska then came through with a two-out single through the left side that plated Gruber and Wolbert for a 7-0 advantage. 

Sauk Valley Community College (15-13) got on the scoreboard in the fourth, posting three runs on three hits and two walks against second starting pitcher Axel Donaldson. However, the Pack answered right back with another four-run inning. Freshman outfielder Braylen White doubled to right, scoring Jonah Roloff before Wolbert, Bloxdorf, and Salvesen each picked up another run batted in as the differential grew to 11-3.

White recorded his second double of the game in the sixth, which was enough to score fellow freshman Paul Nuetzel after he drew a two-out walk. Following a SVCC run in the seventh, the Pack added two more in the eighth when Eason Hurd bashed his team-leading third home run of the season when he sent a two-run homer to left for a 14-4 edge. The Skyhawks capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff walk and a run-scoring double off reliever Landon Dessart.

Wolbert, a native of Wales, Wisconsin, went 4 for 5 in the leadoff spot, which created three runs scored and one run batted in. White was right behind as the Brown Deer, Wisconsin, native was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one driven in. 

Salvesen led the team with three runs batted in as part of a 2 for 6 day that yielded a run scored. Gruber, a freshman from Franksville, Wisconsin, used his two hits to generate a three runs, tying for his season-high. And Sam Moses had two hits, one run scored, and one RBI.

Donaldson worked the first 3.2 innings with three runs allowed on three hits and three walks. The former De Pere HS athlete struck out four batters before freshman Aaron Ploszay (3-1) entered in relief for 1.1 innings, which resulted in his third win of the season. He did not allow a run or a hit, while recording one K. Dessart gave up two runs, four hits, and two walks, to go along with three strikeouts in his 2.1 innings. Chase Baker and Casey Wambach each fanned two over the final 1.2 innings.

Up Next:

Madison College (18-6) is back home at Robin Roberts Field on Saturday, April 11 for a key Region 4 doubleheader against #19-ranked Kankakee Community College (21-10). The WolfPack has won 15 of the last 18 meetings and is 32-20 all-time against the Cavaliers. First pitch is at noon and will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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