MILWAUKEE, Wis. – MATC softball picked up its fourth straight win after dismantling Harper College in back-to-back games during Thursday's home doubleheader.

In Game 1, the Stormers collected 15 hits in a 13-4 win over five innings. In the nightcap, MATC barreled four homers, including three from Mia Carani, en route to another 13-4 win in five innings.

Both victories helped the Stormers get back to above .500% as they improved to 18-17 and 12-4 at home.

"It was a great team effort," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said of the sweep.

Game 1: Stormers jump out in front and never look back
Freshman outfielder Zoey Murph drove in four runs on two hits to help lead the charge during the Stormers 13-4 victory over Harper in five innings. Murph's two hits came on a three-run home run in the second and a single in the fourth.

"I saw the ball really well today and I just swung it," Murph said. "Coach Steve [Champagne] told me to swing early and I did, and it went over the fence. It felt good to hit a home run because my parents were here today and usually they are never here."

As a team, MATC had little trouble making solid contact as they went on to total 11 RBIs on 15 hits, most of which came between the first and second innings.

After Stormers' starter Eleanor Henschel hurled a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, MATC's offense went on to plate five runs on four hits that were aided by two hit-by-pitches. The Stormers got on the board in the bottom of the first by taking advantage of a bases-loaded no-out situation after two straight hit-by-pitches to Jordan Hanserd and Ava Marx and a leadoff single by Sophia Hansen. This set up Rylyn Paulick, who recorded an RBI on an infield groundout, before ensuing hitter Jayden Moss plated a pair on a two-RBI double. Moss later scored on a wild pitch, leaving the Stormers' final run of the inning to come off a Murph RBI flyout in foul territory.

Leading 5-0 through one inning of play, Harper finally got on the scoreboard during the second inning when Henschel surrendered back-to-back solo homer to begin the second.

Clinging to a 5-2 lead, the Stormers managed to spark a seven-run second-inning, all of which came with two outs. Paulick started the two-out rally with a two-RBI triple before later scoring on a wild pitch. Pagano barreled an RBI double to plate Moss and Murph smacked a three-run homer to extend MATC's lead to 12-2.

"We work very well under pressure and so I feel like hitting with two outs just helps us," Murph said of her team's seven-run second-inning.

From the second inning on, MATC was able to cruise to victory thanks to its pitching combo of Henschel and Hanserd. Henschel surrendered two earned runs on six hits over three innings, striking out three and walking one. Hanserd came in relief, where she allowed two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts over two innings.

STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Murph went 2-for-3 with a home run, team-high four RBIs and two runs scored to help lead the Stormers with the sticks. Paulick added three RBIs on one triple and a walk. Mia Carani and Taylor Wilson each had two hits apiece. Ryen Pagano had two hits, including an RBI double. Henschel allowed six hits and two runs over three innings, striking out three and walking one.

Game 2: Carani's three homers lift Stormers to blowout win
Mia Carani displayed her power by barreling three home runs en route to helping the Stormers claim another 13-4 victory in five innings. Carani smacked a two-run shot in the second, a solo shot in the third, and a game-ending walk-off two-run blast off the very first pitch she saw in the bottom of the fifth to help end the game early. Her efforts at the plate afforded her to record a team-high five RBIs.

"A clear mind will do me good," Carani said of her career day at the plate. "I notice when I actually swing on the first pitch, I do well, and so I need to do that more often."

While it was Harper who jumped out in front 1-0 off an RBI double in the top of the first, it was the Stormers who looked in control early after countering with a three-run first-inning of their own off RBI doubles from Ryen Pagano and Aniesa Neave, as well as an RBI single by Somer Beckman.

Taking a 3-1 lead through one frame, MATC went on to plate four runs in the second to take a commanding 7-1 lead. All four runs came on a two-run blast from Carani, an RBI double from Zoey Murph, and an RBI groundout by Beckman.

MATC extended its early lead to 11-3 in the bottom of the fourth off two more homers by Pagano (three-run homer) and Carani (solo homer). The Stormers managed to then carry their eight-run lead all the way up until the fifth inning when Harper plated a run on an RBI groundout.

Needing one run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early once again, Pagano recorded a leadoff double before Carani plated her in on a walk-off two-run blast to center field.

MATC's starter Lily Dorado had an efficient day within the circle as she allowed just three earned runs on five hits over three innings of work to claim the win. Reliever Nevaeh Folk surrendered one earned run on three hits while sitting out two over two innings.

"It was good to get the girls off the field early and keep them healthy," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We got four games this weekend and we're looking forward to getting everybody in to play this weekend."

STAT BOOK (Game 2)
Carani drove in five runs on three home runs to help lead the Stormers at the plate. Pagano added four RBIs on three hits, including two doubles. Sophia Hansen and Beckman each had two hits and two runs apiece. Aniesa Neave went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI. Dorado (3-0) remained undefeated on the mound after giving up three earned runs over three innings of work to earn the win.

UP NEXT
MATC (18-17) will travel to Ottawa, Ill., on Saturday to compete in the Conference Clash with opposing teams Elgin, Morton, Prairie State, and Oakton. They will open Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against Oakton before taking on Prairie State at 1 p.m. to close out the day. On Sunday, the Stormers will turn around and face Morton at 9 a.m. and Elgin at 11 a.m. to wrap up their weekend at Peck Park.