The Madison College baseball team open the year winning four of six games, including three shutouts.
Although the team hasn’t hit its stride offensively just yet, its pitching and defense seem ready to pick up the load.
Through six games, the WolfPack has committed just two errors total compared to 11 for its opponents.
The Madison College pitchers are holding opponents to a .150 batting average and just over one run a game. They have struck out a total of 36 batters while walking 16.
The WolfPack opened the season on March 13 sweeping a doubleheader against Carl Sandburg College, 5-0 and 5-1.
In the first game, freshman Zach Storbakken hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to give Madison College all the offense it would need.
Pitchers Luke Hansel and Jett Thielke combined for a five-hit shutout. Hansel pitched six innings in his collegiate debut and allowed just five hits.
Home runs played a role in the second game as well. Madison College’s Spencer Bartel and Brady Jurgella hit home runs in the second and third innings. Eduardo Saucedo also hit in two runs with a fifth-inning double.
On March 15, Madison College traveled to Minneapolis and split a pair of games against Dakota County Technical College playing inside US Bank Stadium.
Madison College lost the first game, 3-2, after struggling to hit runners in. Twice the WolfPack left the bases loaded in the game.
Kamron Laskowski had two hits, including a double, to lead the WolfPack. Storbakken and Bartel each added a hit and an RBI.
Four WolfPack pitchers held Dakota County to three runs on just three hits. Reagen Klawiter took the loss, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks in two innings.
Madison College won the second game of the doubleheader, 3-0, with four pitchers combining for the shutout. Adrian Montilva, Jack McNeil, Alex Redman and Carson Fluno all pitched in the game, holding Dakota County to just two hits and striking out 12 batters.
The WolfPack scored the game’s first run in the fourth inning on an error by the center fielder that allowed Eduardo Saucedo to score from first base. Zach Storbakken then hit an inside the park home run in the fifth inning to bring in two more runs.
On March 20, Madison College split a pair of games at Joliet Junior College, falling in the first game 3-2 before winning the second game 3-0.
Madison College scored twice in the first inning as Storbakken doubled to drive in two runs. But the WolfPack failed to score after that, only having two more hits the rest of the game.
The bats were almost silent for both teams throughout the next game, with neither team scoring until the WolfPack struck for a decisive three runs in the top of the eighth inning.
Madison College scored three runs on three hits and two walks in the inning. Gunnar Doyle led the team with two hits in the game, including a double.
Four Madison College pitchers held Joliet in check all game. Fluno pitched five innings and allowed just one hit and struck out eight. Taylor Jansen, Patrick Foldy and Thielke each pitched scoreless innings to preserve the win.