(#4) Madison WolfPack Topple (RV) Thunderbirds 10-1

Friday, March 11, 2022 - 6:08 pm | Derek Diesner

Mesa, AZ - After picking up a pair of conference wins earlier in the week, the Mesa Thunderbirds dropped their non-conference match-up Friday afternoon to the 4th ranked Madison College WolfPack by a final of 10-1.

The Thunderbirds; who are currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA DII National Baseball Poll, drop to 14-10 on the season with the loss. With the victory, Madison College; which is currently ranked 4th in the latest NJCAA DII National Poll, picks up their third win in as many games, as they kick off their 2022 season this week here in sunny Arizona.

Mesa sent Levi Graham (2-1) to the bump on Friday afternoon and he got in some early trouble. Graham would allow the leadoff batter to reach in the top of the first on a walk and then saw Brady Jurgella swipe second base to move into scoring position. Following a groundout, which saw Jurgella move to third base, Gunnar Doyle stepped to the plate and hit his first homerun of the season on a 1-0 count to give the WolfPack the early 2-0 lead.

Madison College would never look back following their first inning lead. The WolfPack added two more runs in the third inning before Mesa could get on the board. After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, Mesa began a rally on a Cade Malone single. Dawson Baracani then came to the plate and singled to right field to put runners at first and second with two outs. Jacob Roybal sent a single up the middle to centerfield, which scored Cade Malone for the lone run of the ballgame for the T-Birds.

Levi Graham took the loss on the mound for the T-Birds, allowing four runs on four hits in his 2.2 innings of work. Seth McGrath was solid in relief of Graham, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing two runs; one earned on four hits with four strikeouts.

In the loss, the Thunderbirds were held to just eight hits. Dawson Baracani led the way, finishing the game 3-for-4 at the plate. He was the lone T-Bird with multiple hits.

The Thunderbirds have no time to dwell on this loss, as they travel south to Tucson for a Saturday conference doubleheader at Pima. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 Noon from the Champman Automotive Sports Complex.

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