OAK CREEK, Wis. – Fueled by Mia Carani's first career homer, the Milwaukee Area Technical College softball team managed to earn a series split during its home doubleheader against College of Lake County Thursday.

In the opener, MATC trailed 4-2 in the seventh before Carani barreled a walk-off grand slam to help lift the Stormers past the Lancers in comeback fashion. In the nightcap, MATC couldn't overcome a four-run fourth-inning by CLC, leaving them to fall 5-3. The series split moved the Stormers to 9-10 overall.

"We should have gotten two wins today," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "Unfortunately we didn't crack the code against their No. 2 pitcher in the second game. It seems to be a theme for us over the last two teams we've played. We jump out on their starter and then it seems someone who has less velocity comes in and shuts our hitters down…I'm very proud of how these girls competed and they are working hard and continuing to get better."

Game 1: Carani's grand slam walks off Lake County
Powered by Mia Carani's clutch gene, the Stormers were able to overcome a 4-2 deficit in the seventh to help earn a 6-4 home victory over the Lancers.

As a pinch hitter in a bases-loaded two-out situation in the bottom of the seventh, Carani muscled up and barreled a walk-off grand slam over the center field fence to help lift her team to a Game 1 victory.

"I've been struggling for a while just because I've come back from my ACL injury," Carani said after her walk-off homer. "I dedicate that grand slam to my mother…my mind was clear, which is what I need because I overthink when I'm up at the plate. It felt good rounding the bases and feeling like all my hard work is paying off."

Prior to Carani's four-run blast, MATC's offense had struggled all evening long with runners in scoring position. Up until the final inning, the Stormers had been 2-for-9 with runners on either second or third. That all changed in the seventh when MATC finished the inning going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, all of which came off Carani's first career collegiate homer.

"We didn't take advantage of the early opportunities we had," Stormers head coach Joe Kuntner said. "Luckily, we rallied and got runners in scoring position in that last inning…we were able to get the bases loaded and Carani stepped up. I'm proud of her and these are the moments you live for."

Outside of the late game heroics by Carani, neither squad could pull away more than a one-run lead. MATC broke the 0-0 tie off an RBI single by Ava Marx in the first. CLC then responded with an RBI double in the second before taking a 2-1 lead off a RBI single in the fourth. The Stormers eventually countered after Marx notched a single in the fifth, which helped score Ava D'Acquisto to knot things up at two runs apiece. Tied 2-2, the Lancers pulled ahead by two runs after an RBI single in the sixth and a solo homer by Katalina Ybarra in the seventh.

The Stormers comeback in the bottom of the seventh began with a leadoff single by D'Acquisto. From there, MATC followed D'Acquisto's single with a groundout, a single by pinch hitter Emily Pujanauski, a flyout, and a key eight-pitch drawn walk by Jayden Moss. With all eyes on Carani, in a bases-loaded two-out situation, the freshman delivered her biggest moment in her collegiate career  – a walk-off grand slam.

STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Carani led the Stormers with a walk-off grand slam as a pinch hitter. Marx went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a double. Taylor Wilson, Ryen Pagano, and Rylyn Paulick each contributed doubles. Starter Eleanor Henschel tossed three innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits with a pair of punchouts. Emma Staudt earned the win in relief, allowing one run on a solo homer with zero walks given up.

Game 2: Slow start costs Stormers a series sweep over CLC
Unlike Game 1 where the Stormers' bats came alive late, MATC's offense struggled in Game 2, totaling just six hits in a 5-3 loss that saw the Lancers take complete control after a four-run fourth-inning.

"We had two poor defensive plays during the fourth-inning," Stormers head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We have to be better in all situations. I'm thrilled we earned the split, but the second game got away from us."

MATC starter Emma Staudt did her best to position the Stormers well off by tossing another strong outing on the rubber. The righty hurled three scoreless frames, where she surrendered just one hit and four walks with one strikeout. However, during Staudt's time on the mound, the Stormers' offense totaled just two hits and couldn't get themselves on the scoreboard.

Still tied 0-0 through three innings, CLC broke things open in the fourth when Neveah Folk came in to relieve Staudt. Folk surrendered four earned runs on four hits and one walk, leaving the Stormers to fall into an early four-run deficit that was later extended to five runs off an RBI double in the top of the sixth.

Over the course of the first five innings, MATC had been 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. That all changed in the bottom half of the sixth inning after a leadoff double by Ryen Paganao sparked a three-run sixth-inning. Two of the Stormer's runs came off a two-RBI double by Jayden Moss and the other came on an RBI double by Madi Johnson Hass, all of which came with only one out recorded.

Having cut its deficit to a pair of runs still in the sixth inning, MATC managed to grind its way into a bases-loaded one-out situation, but unfortunately they weren't able to bring anybody else home. As a result of the Stormer's comeback bid coming up short after failing to score during the seventh inning, MATC dropped to 5-3 at home. STAT BOOK (Game 2) Moss paced the Stormers' offense with a pair of hits and two RBIs. Pagano added a double and one single in four plate appearances. Celia May had one double and a walk. Staudt tossed three scoreless innings. Johnson Hass chipped in an RBI double.

UP NEXT
MATC (9-10) will travel to Kankakee Community College Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.