(Sugar Grove, IL.) – In another example of 'that's why they play the game' instead of just determining the outcome on paper, Waubonsee Community College hung with Madison (WI.) College for seven innings on a windy Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, the contest was a nine-inning game. The Wolfpack (22-7), ranked eighth nationally in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, scored four times in the top of the eighth inning to pull out a 5-1 victory over the underdog Chiefs (4-26).
Waubonsee got on the scoreboard first with the help of some sloppy play by the Wolfpack in the bottom of the second inning. Sam Carroll was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to second on a passed ball. Andrew Hernandez then laid down a bunt and Madison pitcher Ben Ketelson bobbled the ball for an error to put runners at first and third. Two batters later Ketelson made an errant pickoff throw to first to allow Carroll to trot home with the game's first run.
Meanwhile, Chiefs' starting pitcher Ivan Acevedo kept the Wolfpack hitters off balance and off the scoreboard. And when they did connect solidly, his defense was there behind him snagging four line-drive outs in the first three innings. The Chiefs had another potential scoring opportunity when Landen Young led off the bottom of the third with a ringing double to left center field, but he was stranded at third. Madison got runners to first and third in the top of the fourth before Acevedo escaped unscathed by striking out the Wolfpack's designated hitter Quinn Falish for the third out.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Chiefs heading into the bottom of the sixth inning as Acevedo limited Madison to two hits with the help of his defense. Jacob Cronshaw made a sliding stop of Tyler Butina's hard-hit grounder that appeared headed to right field, with the second baseman scrabbling to his feet to throw to first for the last out of the sixth. Waubonsee threatened again to add to its' slim lead in the bottom half of the frame as Jack Sharko reached on an error and made it to third via a sacrifice bunt and another Wolfpack throwing error. A short time later a pitch in the dirt trickled away from Madison catcher Nate Novinska, with Sharko being tagged out by pitcher Chase Baker on a close play at the plate.
The tide turning play energized the Wolfpack as Novinska was hit by a pitch to start the top of the seventh. Novinska then stole second before pinch hitter Ryan Santi drew a walk. However, Cronshaw snagged a low line drive by Chris Calico and flipped to shortstop J.P. Merlak to double Novinska off second base. Acevedo then got within a strike of escaping the jam before Madison's Jack Bauer bounced a single up the middle to score pinch-runner J.J. Wolbert and tie the game at 1-all. Taylor Siekierski came on in relief of Acevedo and got a ground out to first base to send the contest to the bottom of the seventh tied.
The Wolfpack turned a double play in the bottom of the seventh to stymie the Chiefs. Siekierski then pounced on a swinging bunt by Howie Rickett to get the first out in the eighth. But Marcellino Edison Alonso followed with a single to right and stole second base. Madison eventually loaded the bases with two outs and the Chiefs' defense faltered for the first time all day. Wolbert slashed a sinking liner to left field that was dropped for a two-base, two-run error vaulting the Wolfpack into the lead 3-1. Another Chiefs' error allowed two more unearned runs to cross the plate putting the visitors in front 5-1. Madison again turned a double play in the bottom half of the eighth to thwart any potential rally by the Chiefs. Right-handed reliever Mason Sherman then closed out the ninth to secure the Wolfpack's win.
Acevedo got a no-decision despite allowing just one run over six and two-thirds innings, surrendering three hits, striking out one and walking four. Siekierski took the loss despite giving up just one hit over two and a third innings pitched. The Wolfpack finished with four hits and the Chiefs registered only three hits with five of the six combined runs tallied in the game being unearned. Waubonsee is set to be in action again tomorrow, Monday, April 14 when they host 12th ranked Kankakee Community College (27-5) in a 3:00 p.m. match-up.