A promising start to the NJCAA Division II Region 4 Quarterfinals came to a disappointing end for the Madison College softball team on May 3.
Madison College opened the double-elimination tournament on May 2 with a pair of 7-2 victories to reach the championship but suffered a pair of tough losses to Black Hawk College to end its tournament run.
Having defeated both Highland Community College and Black Hawk College to reach the championship, Madison College was guaranteed two shots at advancing to the regional finals.
The first championship game ended in a 3-0 loss as Madison College was held hitless in the game. Madison College’s only base runners came on two walks early in the game. Black Hawk retired the final 12 WolfPack batters in order.
Black Hawk took another early lead in the second championship game, but this time Madison College battled back.
Trailing, 5-1, after two innings, the WolfPack tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Madison College scored once in the top of the third inning and pulled even with a three-run home run from Hayden Schabel in the sixth.
But Black Hawk responded in the bottom of the sixth inning, and in a big way. The Hawks scored six runs on two walks, a hit batter, an error, a bunt single and a home run. The resulting 11-5 deficit was too big for the WolfPack to overcome.
Madison College opened the quarter final tournament with a 7-2 win over Highland Community College on May 2. A five-run sixth inning broke a tied score and gave the WolfPack the win.
Brooke Anderson had three hits and scored twice in the victory, while Brooke Steinhorst and Ava Stahl both had two hits. Anderson and Steinhorst both hit doubles in the game.
Steinhorst started the game on the mound and pitched 4-2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk. Lauryn Etienne earned the victory in relief, allowing one hit the rest of the way.
Madison College earned its spot in the championship with a 7-2 win over Black Hawk College as a five-run third inning propelled the WolfPack to victory.
Four singles, two errors and a hit batter provided the fuel for the big inning. Schabel, Stahl, Steinhorst and Rylee Rogers each had hits in the inning. Stahl finished the game with three hits and scored twice to lead the WolfPack.
Kendall Weik pitched all seven innings the victory allowing just two runs on four hits. She struck out 11 batters, setting a new school record in career strikeouts. Her record now stands at 267.
Madison College finished the season 28-15 overall. The team went 13-1 at home, but 6-11 on the road and 9-3 at neutral sites.
Weik finished with a 12-8 record on the mound with a 3.28 ERA and 150 strikeouts. Steinhorst had an 11-6 record a with a 3.33 ERA and 64 strikeouts.
Reagan Schwarz was the team’s leading hitter with a .450 batting average, posting 59 hits in 131 at-bats. Steinhorst posted a .395 average followed by Anderson at .393, Stahl at .381 and Rogers at .342.