The Madison College softball and baseball teams took advantage of the warm weather this past month by getting a few games in before their spring break trips.
It is rare to get to play outdoor games in February, but both teams were happy for the opportunity.
Softball
The Madison College softball team split a doubleheader with Milwaukee Area Technical College at home on Feb. 27, while the baseball team traveled to Grayslake, Ill., and beat the College of Lake County in a nine-inning game.
The WolfPack softball team started out strong against the Stormers, posting an 11-2 win in a run-rule, six-inning game.
Milwaukee scored in the top of the first inning, manufacturing a run on a walk, dropped third strike and an error during a double steal.
But that lead didn’t last long, as Madison College scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Mackenna Schultz led off with a single and scored on a hit by Karis Paulson. Jenna Redders had a hit to score Paulson, then she scored on Brooke Anderson’s double.
Anderson had another hit in the bottom of the fourth inning to drive in Redders from second based. Back-to-back walks in the fifth inning paid off with a two-run double from Schultz to give the WolfPack a 6-2 lead.
Madison College ended the game early by scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, The rally started with a triple from Redders and ended with a walk-off double from Schultz.
Schultz, Redders and Anderson each ended the game with three hits apiece to lead the WolfPack offensively.
Brooke Steinhorst pitched a complete game, allowing just two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out eight batters.
The second game of the doubleheader saw Milwaukee get off to a big start with four runs in the first inning, and then answer every Madison College rally to preserve an 8-5 victory over the WolfPack.
Trailing, 5-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Madison College closed the gap with a pair of runs. Ava Stahl tripled to right to open the inning and scored on a hit by Schultz. A two-out hit by Paulson later in the inning scored Schultz.
The WolfPack battled back again in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Milwaukee added a run in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 6-3. Back-to-back triples by Schultz and Anderson open the scoring. When Paulson grounded out to drive in Anderson, it closed the gap to one run at 6-5.
But a two-run home run for Milwaukee in the top of the seventh inning closed out the score and gave the Stormers two insurance runs. The loss ended Madison College’s 15-game winning streak over their in-state rivals.
Offensively, Schultz went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a run batted in. Abbey Remington also had two hits and scored a run. The WolfPack finished with eight hits, half of which went for triples.
In the circle, Kendall Weik (0-1) took her first collegiate loss after surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks. She did strike out three batters in her three innings of work. Wyskochil tossed the final four innings and allowed three runs on five hits, striking out four.
Madison College softball team was scheduled to play Sauk Valley Community College in a doubleheader on March 5 before its spring break trip to Myrle Beach, South Carolina.
Baseball
The eighth-ranked Madison College baseball team opened its season with a 17-4 victory in a nine-inning game against College of Lake County on Feb. 27. It was the most runs the WolfPack had scored in a game since scoring 17 against Mesa College during last season’s spring break trip.
A six-run third inning gave Madison College a 12-4 lead that only grew as the College of Lake County was held scoreless the rest of the way.
Will Johannes and James Duncan both hit home runs in the game. Nick Nowak and Peyton Frehner both had three hits to lead the WolfPack, while Johannes, Duncan and Marcelino Alonso each had two hits.
The WolfPack utilized 10 different pitchers in the game, eight of which each worked a full inning. First year righty Gradin Taschner impressed in the fourth inning, striking out the side against the only three batters he faced.
Noah Musolf, Adison Tevz and Allen Leitner each had a strike out in a hitless inning, while sophomores Liam Stumpf and Eamonn Mulhern both went unscathed in their time on the mound. Stumpf (1-0) was awarded the win for the fourth of his career.
The Madison College baseball team is next scheduled to play on their annual Arizona Spring Trip, which opens March 7 with a doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.