SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – The Stormers earned their fourth doubleheader split of the season after splitting a pair of road contests against Oakton Thursday.

MATC made quick work of the Owls by the tune of a 9-2 final in Game 1 with the help of another solid outing from its ace Max Merline.

"The bats finally got going and it was a great sign," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said of his team's opening victory. "Merline did what Merline does [on the mound], and that's to compete for six innings and he gave us another quality start."

In Game 2, the Stormers couldn't overcome a six-run second-inning explosion by the Lancers, leaving them to fall, 8-7. With another series split, MATC moved to 12-14 on the season and 5-6 on the road.

"We just can't give up such a big inning in the second," Bounds said. "The bullpen did an amazing job coming in and keeping Oakton at bay. The offense did a great job of getting us back into the game. I was proud of the way we fought and I am excited to get back going again on Sunday against Elgin."

Game 1: Stormers 9, Oakton 2 (7 Innings)

• The Stormers totaled nine hits and six RBIs
• MATC took a 2-0 lead in the fourth off a fielder's choice with the bases-loaded and a steal of home from Brady Johnson
• MATC starter Max Merline surrendered a solo homerun in the fourth, cutting the lead to 2-1
• Cole Wissen recorded an RBI single in the fifth to give his team a 3-1 lead
• Camdin Jansen and Wissen each stole home in the fifth, helping extend MATC's lead to 5-1
• Stormers drove in four runs in the seventh off a RBI double by Brady Johnson and a three-RBI double by Riley Edmons
• Oakton scored the final run on a wild pitch in the seventh
• Merline improved to 3-1 on the rubber, throwing six innings, striking out five and allowing one earned run on four hits
• Justin Schnell allowed one unearned run in one inning of relief action
• Emons led the Stormers' offense with two hits and a team-high three RBIs
• Easton Morehouse collected two singles and a run scored

Game 2: Oakton 8, Stormers 7 (7 Innings)

• MATC lost despite out-hitting Oakton 12-8
• The Stormers took a 2-0 lead in the first off three singles and steal home by Cole Wissen
• Oakton countered with a six-run, three-hit, second-inning
• Trailing 7-1, MATC scored two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and its final two runs in the sixth, to cut the deficit to 8-7
• The Stormers went 0-for-2 with runners on first and second and only one out in the seventh
• MATC starter Jake Lequia threw 1 and ⅔ innings, giving up seven earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks
• Marco Falletti paced the offense with three singles and two runs scored
• Brady Johnson went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored
• Easton Morehouse had a pair of singles and two RBIs
• Robert Crawford III chipped in two RBIs and one single
• Alex Dvorak tossed one scoreless inning of relief

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MATC (12-14) will return home for a doubleheader against Elgin beginning at noon Sunday.