MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College softball team earned a split of Friday's Region 4 doubleheader with Kankakee Community College to kick off a busy six-game weekend homestand. The WolfPack won the day's first game 6-4 before falling 12-3 to the Cavaliers in the finale. The all-time series still favors the Pack by a 7-4 count.

Game #1: Madison College 6, Kankakee Community College 4

Neither team generated much offense through the first two-and-a-half innings until Madison College scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore catcher Hayden Schabel singled in Sadie Svendson to open the scoring, and then first year shortstop Aubrey Juga raced in to score on a dropped third strike that got away from the KCC catcher. An error by the Cavaliers on the next ball in play by Hanna Stremkowski allowed Schabel to cross home to complete the inning.

In the fourth, the WolfPack racked up five base hits to tack on two more runs. Leftfielder Kelsey Meverden's single up the middle drove in Cathryn Zegadlo, and Schabel followed with a liner to center that got down for a RBI as Meverden touched home.

Kankakee Community College got on the board in the fifth with a run-scoring double, and then closed the gap to 6-4 with a three-run top of the sixth. The Cavaliers used an error and a double against reliever Sophie Golembiewski to score the first run of the inning, and then after a pitching change brought fellow freshman Gretta Lewis into the circle, recorded three more base knocks to drive in two more runs.

After Lewis induced an inning-ending ground ball, she returned in the seventh and limited the Cavaliers to one base runner before striking out the final batter to preserve the win and earn her first career save. Lewis worked 1.2 innings and fanned two batters while allowing an unearned run on three hits and a walk. Golembiewski also pitched 1.2 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits and one K. Starter Lauryn Etienne (7-2) threw 3.2 scoreless innings and scattered a pair of hits and walks, to go along with three strikeouts.

Schabel, a native of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, led the offensive charge with a 3 for 4 effort that produced two runs batted in and one run scored. Just ahead of her in the lineup were Meverden and Zegadlo, who each had two hits. Meverden's resulted in two runs scored and two RBI, while Zegadlo crossed home once.

Game #2: Kankakee Community College 12, Madison College 3

Kankakee Community College (19-17) dominated the second game, scoring multiple runs in four different innings. The Cavaliers got to freshman starter Ella Knoble in the second inning as they loaded the bases on a hit and two walks. Gretta Lewis took over and forced a run in with another walk before giving up a sac fly to make it 2-0. The differential jumped to 6-0 in the third with four doubles, a walk, and a successful double steal. A two-run homer in the fourth put the WolfPack in an eight-run deficit, while a single and a double in the fifth advanced the score to 9-0.

Madison College was finally able to get the bats going in the fifth. Shelby Brooks singled in Emily Bopes before Kelsey Meverden doubled down the left field line to plate Addalyn Henderson. A passed ball brought in Brooks to make it 9-3. 

Before the game ended, KCC added three more runs for the 12-3 advantage as they opened the seventh with three consecutive singles, and after a pair of ground outs, got two more base hits.

The WolfPack was held to four hits in the game. Brooks had one, as well as a run scored and a run batted in. Meverden finished with a hit and a RBI, while Henderson scored a run following her hit. 

Knoble (1-1) took the loss after being credited with two earned runs on a hit and three walks in 1.1 innings. Lewis pitched 1.2 innings with six run allowed on five hits and three walks. She struck out two batters before Sophie Golembiewski took over for the final four innings. She fanned one batter and was tagged for four runs and eight hits.

Follow WolfPack softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GameChanger