Madison College’s softball team played 16 games before it had a chance to play on its home field.
On April 7, it made up for lost time playing three straight games against Harper College, winning the first two games before falling one run short in the final game.
The WolfPack started the day with a 7-4 victory behind the pitching of Marissa Shaner, who limited Harper to four runs on four hits.
Madison College jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, added two more runs in the third inning after Harper rallied to tie the game and sealed the win with two runs in the sixth inning.
Offensively, the team was led by Megan Hanke, who 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI, and Jordan Bell, who added two hits
Madison College dominated the second game against Harper, winning 10-3 after pounding out 14 hits.
Samantha Schuchardt pitched the win for Madison College, holding Harper to three runs on seven hits and no walks.
Bell, Hanke and Andrea Lawrence led the offensive attack. Each had three hits in the game. Bell doubled in the game and led the team with four RBIs, while Hanke had three and Lawrence had two.
The third game played was postponed from earlier in the week, when the two teams were supposed to play a doubleheader at Harper College. In that game, Harper College managed to hold off Madison College for an 8-7 victory.
Madison College took a 2-1 lead after one inning. Harper battled back with two runs in the third and five runs in the fourth to take an 8-2 lead.
But the WolfPack responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to one run. Unfortunately, Madison College was unable to score in the final two innings.
Paige Weber pitched the loss, giving up five runs on five hits and nine walks before exiting the game in the fourth inning.
Bell again was one of the team’s top hitters, going 3 for 4 at the plate, while Brianna Wagner went 2 for 2.
Madison College’s record now stands at 9-10 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
College of DuPage 7,
Madison College 3
A slow start and a five run inning cost Madison College in a 7-3 loss to the College of DuPage in the first game of a doubleheader on April 5 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. DuPage scored a run in both the third and fourth innings, then sealed the game with five in the sixth.
Madison College didn’t score until the seventh inning, getting three runs on a double by Andrea Lawrence.
Fielding problems hurt the WolfPack. The team committed four errors in the game and only two runs that scored against them were earned.
College of DuPage 4,
Madison College 1
In the second game of the doubleheader, all the scoring happened in the first three innings. DuPage jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first and added one run in the third and fourth innings to claim a 4-1 victory. Madison College was limited to four hits in the game.
Megan Hanke was the team’s top hitter in the game, going 2 for 3 with a double. Shaner pitched the loss, giving up four runs on nine hits.
Madison College 8,
Rock Valley College 4
Three runs in the sixth inning helped Madison College secure an 8-4 victory over Rock Valley College in the first game of a doubleheader on April 3. Hits by Michelle Farino and Lawrence drove in runs in the inning, with a third run scoring on a passed ball.
Shaner led the team with four hits in the game, while Lawrence and Farino each added two. Bell had a double for the team’s only extra-base hit. Shaner pitched the win, giving up four runs on nine hits with no walks.
Madison College 8,
Rock Valley College 7
Madison College jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and then survived a late-game rally by Rock Valley to win, 8-7, in the second game of a doubleheader.
Shaner had a big game for the WolfPack. She had three hits, including two doubles, three RBIs, and pitched the save. Lawrence was 3 for 3 in the game, while Bell and Endris were 2 for 4. Paige Weber was the winning pitcher.