OAK CREEK, Wis. – Too many free bases given up by MATC's pitching staff proved to be the difference in the Stormers suffering a 7-5 road defeat in nine innings to Elgin Thursday.

The Stormers pitching combination of Luke Klekamp, Connor Ziman, and Colin Weist, combined to allow nine walks and six hit-by-pitches, which helped lead to three unearned runs.

Starting pitcher Klekamp lasted 5 and ⅓ innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits while striking out four and walking six with three hit-by-pitches. Ziman surrendered two walks, two hit-by-pitches and zero hits over 1 and ⅓ innings, where he allowed three runs (two earned). Weist tossed 1 and ⅓ innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, one walk, and a hit-by-pitch.

"It was a tough day on the mound with us giving up free bases," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "It's really tough to win a game when you give up 15 free passes. We did a decent job in limiting the damage, but at the end of the day you can't give a team that many opportunities and not expect to lose."

Trailing 4-3 through six and a half innings, reliever Ziman looked as if he was about to fire a 1-2-3 bottom half of the six after retiring the first two hitters on groundouts. However, it was at this point that he surrendered back-to-back hit-by-pitches, followed by two straight walks that helped aid a three-run inning to put the Stormers in a 7-3 hole.

MATC did its best to try and formulate a comeback in the top of the ninth, but they were limited to just two runs off of back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Marco Falletti and Brady Johnson before recording its final out via a groundout.

STAT BOOK
Falletti and Johnson collectively paced the Stormers' offense with RBI singles. Cole Wissen and Leonardo Zerillo each had one hit and one drawn walk apiece. Easton Morehouse and Camdin Jansen each drew three walks. Armijo-Martin chipped in one double and one walk. Klekamp suffered the loss in a valiant start on the bump.

UP NEXT
MATC (22-15) will host Joliet Junior College for a home doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.