MADISON, WISC. - Thursday's in-state and Region 4 softball clash between Madison College and Milwaukee Area Technical College resulted in a 9-6 win for the WolfPack and a suspended game tied at 11-11 after seven innings. Heavy rains prevented the finale from reaching a conclusion, and a possible date to resume the game, if needed, has been set for April 28. The results puts the all-time series at 24-14-1 in favor of the Pack.

Game #1: Madison College 9, Milwaukee Area Technical College 6

The visiting Stormers jumped on top in the first half inning with a two-run homer off sophomore starter Lauryn Etienne. Madison College was ready with a response, tying the game at 2-2 in the home half. Freshman Sadie Svendsen led off with a triple and then scored on a passed ball. Kelsey Meverden followed with a single, and three batters later, scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Cathryn Zegadlo.

Both teams scored again in the third inning, with MATC using a pair of two-out extra base hits with a triple and a double to go up 3-2. In the bottom half, sophomore Raegen Schwarz lined a single up the middle to plate pinch runner Shelby Brooks. A walk to Ella Knoble loaded the bases for freshman Addie Fritts, who was hit by a pitch to force in Zegadlo and take a one-run lead.

One swing of the bat busted the game open in the fourth. Two singles and a walk filled the bases for Zegadlo. After the Stormers brought in a new pitcher, the Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, native, sent an 0-1 offering deep over the left field wall for a grand slam. The four-run bomb is her second homer of the season.



Milwaukee Tech got one run back in the fifth off a walk and a double, and again the Pack had an answer. In the midst of four consecutive singles, three of which were bunts, Meverden drove in Hanna Stremkowski. In the Stormers final at bat, they generated two runs on two singles and an error before a line out to Svendsen at shortstop ended the game.

Etienne (6-1) got the win after throwing seven innings and striking out nine batters. She allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits and two walks.

The offense was paced by Meverden, who posted a career-high three hits. The Wausau, Wisconsin, native, finished with a run batted in and a run scored.

Svendsen, Coffey, and Schwarz each had two hits in the game, with Coffey scoring twice, Svendsen touching home once, and Schwarz driving in a run. 

Zegadlo set a career-best with four RBI on the grand slam, while also scoring twice as she went 1 for 4.

Game #2: Madison College 11, Milwaukee Area Technical College 11 (Suspended after 7 innings)

Game two was a wild, back-and-forth contest that saw five ties and two lead changes before play was suspended. Milwaukee Area Technical College (8-17-1) once again scored first with two runs in the opening half inning, but momentum was seized right back as freshman Sadie Svendsen went yard with a leadoff, solo home run in the bottom half. Four batters later, first year shortstop Aubrey Juga singled through the left side to score Cassie Coffey and tie the game at 2-2.

In the second, freshman Dalana Trumpy tripled to the wall in center, and was brought home with a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bailey Mester. After the Stormers evened the score at 3-3 in the top of the third, the WolfPack put another two runs on the scoreboard in the home half. Cathryn Zegadlo followed a leadoff double by Coffey with a single to go back in front, and an error later in the inning allowed Juga to cross home for a 5-3 advantage. 

Two runs in the fourth by Milwaukee Tech again tied it 5-5 before Zegadlo struck one more time in the bottom, driving a single to right with runners in scoring position. Mester scored from third and the Pack went ahead 6-5. Mester was on the business end of another run in the fifth, picking up a RBI with a single to left that plated Haleigh Benisch.

The two-run lead disappeared in the sixth as the Stormers took advantage of two errors, two walks, and a hit to score four runs for a 9-7 differential. Three consecutive base hits resulted in a pair of runs in the WolfPack sixth as they tied the score at 9-9. Juga doubled in Schwarz, and then raced in on a single by freshman Addie Fritts.

As rain began to fall, both teams scored two runs in the seventh inning. Milwaukee Tech used a pair of walks, an error, and a single to go ahead 11-9. With their backs against the wall, the Pack came through with two clutch runs. Mester singled in Dalana Trumpy, and Coffey tied it up on a single past the first baseman to score Mester.

As the rains got heavier and no end in sight, the game was suspended. A decision will be made later in the month regarding whether the game will be resumed on April 28.

Meverden tossed six innings and allowed five earned runs on 11 hits and five walks. She struck out three before Sophie Golembiewski entered for an inning in relief. She surrendered two unearned runs on a hit and two walks, while striking out one.

Coffey and Mester led the way with three hits each, with the latter driving in three runs and scoring two more. Coffey crossed home twice and drove in another. Three others, Svendsen, Zegadlo, and Juga each had two hits.

Up Next: 

Madison College (13-8-1) will play another in-state and Region 4 rival Friday, April 10 when they take on Bryant & Stratton College (21-8). The game was originally scheduled to be played in West Allis, Wisconsin; however, the teams have moved it to Robert D. Goodman Softball Field due to wet field conditions. Game one will start at 2:00 p.m. and be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv. Live stats are available via the GameChanger app.

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