MADISON, WISC. - Two of the top baseball teams in Region 4 clashed on Sunday at Robin Roberts Field, resulting in a split doubleheader between the two nationally ranked teams. Black Hawk College, ranked #17 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, used a big sixth inning to win the opener 11-8; however, #7 Madison College answered with a 4-3 walk-off win in the nightcap. The WolfPack is 29-18 all-time against the Braves.

Game #1: #17 Black Hawk College 11, #7 Madison College 8

Madison College was able to put the first runs on the board in the day's opening game, scoring three runs on two hits, three walks, and a wild pitch in the bottom of the third inning. It began with freshman centerfielder Jonah Roloff grounding a leadoff triple down the right field line. Two batters later, a wild pitch send Roloff in the score and gave the home team a 1-0 lead. Three consecutive walks later in the inning loaded the bases for sophomore Quinn Falish, and the rightfielder took advantage with a single through the left side that scored Ian Salvesen and Nate Novinska for a three-run advantage.

The Braves answered right back in the top of the fourth, plating four runs on three hits, one hit batter, and an error against WolfPack starter Noah Marschke. The one run deficit held until the bottom of the fifth when an error and two wild pitches put Novinska 90 feet from home. A sacrifice bunt by Casey Wambach scored Novinska to tie the game. A single by shortstop Beau Bloxdord in the subsequent at bat was enough to bring in Falish and regain a 5-4 lead for Madison College.

A pitching change for the WolfPack brought sophomore Carter Lund to the mound, but the righthander recorded just one out as he faced nine batters. The inning featured five hits, including a three-run homer, two hits batters, and two errors by pitcher, resulting in seven runs and an 11-5 differential. Freshman Tavian Shramek came in to strike out two batters and end the inning.

The WolfPack tried to get back in the game, scoring a run in their half of the sixth as Salvesen singled up the middle to score Wolbert, who also drove in two runs with a double in the seventh to close the gap to 11-8 before the game ended.

Three batters accumulated multiple hits in the game, led by Falish with two hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Roloff, a native of Delafield, Wisconsin, scored two runs with his two hits and a walk, and Salvesen had two hits, one walk, one run scored, and one RBI.

Wolbert finished with two runs batted in and a run scored with a hit and a walk, while Bloxdorf added a hit, a run, and a run driven in.

Lund (3-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs, six of which were earned, on five hits and two hit batters. Marschke worked five innings and held the Braves to four runs, three earned, with four hits, and a walk. He struck out five batters. Shramek finished with three K's and one hit in his 1.2 innings.

Game #2: #7 Madison College 4, #17 Black Hawk College 3

Game two was much more closely contested, but again the home team struck first. Catcher Nate Novinska grounded out to shortstop, but it was deep enough for sophomore JJ Wolbert to reach home from third.

Black Hawk College (39-9) tied the game in the top of the third, taking advantage of a hit by pitch from starter Broden Jackson to the leadoff hitter and a single three batters later. The WolfPack retook the lead in the next half inning. Wolbert again led off the frame with a hit, this time doubling to right field. Freshman Eason Hurd followed with a bunt single and an error by the third baseman allowed Wolbert to make it a 2-1 advantage.

The differential grew to 3-1 in the fifth as a hit sandwiched between two walks loaded the bases for Ian Salvesen, and the second year corner infielder lifted a sacrifice fly to left to plate Jonah Roloff.

The Braves, however, chipped away at the lead, scoring a run in the sixth on a bases loaded hit by pitch from Landon Dessart after he took over two batters prior for Jackson. They tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh with a single and a triple, setting the stage for a dramatic ending. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Madison College loaded the bases with one out thanks to a Novinska walk, Salvesen single, and then an intentional walk of Quinn Falish. With Sam Moses at bat and facing a 1-1 count, the third pitch sailed past the catch allowing Novinska to score the game-winning, walk-off run on a wild pitch.

Wolbert led the way with three of the team's five hits, marking his second game this season with three base knocks or more. It resulted in two runs scored. Salvesen finished with a hit and a run batted in, while Novinska scored a run and drove in another going 0 for 2 with two walks.

Freshman Casey Wambach (1-0) picked up his first collegiate victory after pitching 1.1 innings in relief. He allowed a run on two hits and struck out 1. Jackson did not factor in the decision despite 5.1 innings and seven strikeouts. The righthander surrendered two runs on five hits and four free passes. Dessart's final line included a walk and a hit batter in one-third of an inning.

Up Next:

Madison College (32-9) continues its extended homestand on Tuesday, April 28 with a nine-inning game against McHenry County College (22-24). The game is part of a home-and-home series with the Scots that will conclude on May 2 in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The WolfPack leads the all-time series 36-16-1. First pitch at Robin Roberts Field is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv. Live stats are available via the GameChanger app.

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