ENID, OKLA. - Madison College was five outs away from advancing to the semifinal round of the
2026 NJCAA Division II World Series at David Allen Memorial Ballpark on Tuesday; however, the #3-seeded WolfPack eventually lost their three-run lead and the game as #2-seeded Pearl River Community College walked off with a 6-4 victory. The Bobcats hit three home runs in the final two innings to rally from behind. Sophomore
Broden Jackson became the second consecutive starter to work into the eighth inning in as many games.
Madison College made a statement right away in the first inning, scoring two runs as freshman
Ian Salvesen delivered a two-run single.
Braylen White opened the game by reaching on an error, and
Nate Novinska joined him on the bases with a base hit. Salvesen's two-out, two-RBI base knock was a bouncing ground ball back up the middle.
The two-run advantage held until the third when the Wildcats took advantage of a lead off hit by pitch and a double to eventually plate a run with a sacrifice fly.
The WolfPack answered right back with two more runs in the fourth.
Sam Moses and
Casey Wambach each reached on a single, and sophomore
Beau Bloxdorf delivered a bunt single to score Moses to regain the two-run lead. After a wild pitch moved runners up a base,
JJ Wolbert grounded a single to right that brought Wambach in to score for a 4-1 advantage.
Jackson had allowed just two hits through seven innings when he took the mound in the eighth. After a single started the inning, he recorded an out on a fly ball to
Jonah Roloff in center. A 1-1 pitch to the next batter was hit over the wall in right center for a two-run homer to make it 4-3.
Sophomore
Noah Musolf took over out of the bullpen, but his second pitch was hit beyond the centerfield wall for a solo home run that tied the game. After a walk, lefthander
Chase Baker took over and eventually ended the inning with a double play.
The WolfPack threatened to regain the lead in the top of the ninth as Wolbert and White hit back-to-back singles with two outs. Centerfielder
Jonah Roloff was unable to capitalize as he grounded out to second to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pearl River had a runner on second with one out when their second baseman sent a walk-off, two-run homer to left for the win.
Jackson, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, was credited with nine strikeouts over 7.1 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits. Musolf was tagged for a run on a hit and a walk without recording an out, while Baker (5-1) took his first loss of the season after surrendering two runs on three hits in one inning on the mound.
Wolbert, a Wales, Wisconsin, native, was tops with two hits, resulting in one run batted in. Salvesen, a Hatley, Wisconsin, native, drove in two runs and had one hit.
The quartet of White, Novinska, Moses, and Wambach each had a hit and a runs scored, while Bloxdord finished with one hit and one RBI.
Pearl River Community College (48-11) leads the all-time series 3-1 in a rematch of the 2022 championship series. The loss also snapped a season-best 12-game win streak for the WolfPack.
Up Next:
Madison College (46-11) will play a quarterfinal elimination game Wednesday, May 27 against #7-seed Iowa Central Community College (52-11). The Tritons lead the all-time series by an 11-3 count, which includes a
10-8 victory in a quarterfinal elimination game at last year's NJCAA World Series that ended the Pack's season. First pitch at David Allen Memorial Ballpark is set for 3:00 p.m. The winner will move on to the semifinal round against #2 Pearl River Community College on Thursday.
Follow WolfPack baseball: Facebook |
Twitter |
GameChanger
