OAK CREEK, Wis. – MATC baseball secured two comeback victories over Joliet Junior College in walk-off fashion Saturday.

In Game 1, the Stormers erupted for a six-run seventh-inning, one of which included a walk-off RBI single by Lucas Hernandez, that helped catapult them to a 7-6 win. In the follow up game, MATC's Brady Johnson took an RBI hit-by-pitch with the bases-loaded in order to claim a 2-1 victory.

As a result of the sweep, the Stormers improved their record to 24-15 and 11-5 at home.

"I thought we did a really good job today against JJC," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "There's definitely some things we need to clean up…but at the end of the day we were able to come away with two big victories."

Game 1: Late-game rally lifts Stormers to walk-off win
MATC claimed Game 1 in dramatic fashion, taking a 7-6 walk-off victory over Joliet Junior College. With the game tied at six, Lucas Hernandez clutched up to barrel a one-out RBI single to left field that sealed the Wolves' fate.

"I just wanted to be a productive out at the end of the day," Hernandez said of his walk-off single. "I just wanted to move somebody over, but I had a good battle over the last few pitches. I stayed in there and kept my head down and connected on a single. It was a great feeling having everybody rush towards me and I'm just happy for the opportunity."

The Stormers came back to secure the win despite trailing 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. Their lone run prior came in the third inning when Marco Falletti plated Camdin Jansen (double) on an RBI single.

JJC regained the lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead. They managed to extend their lead to 5-1 in the sixth off a two-out two-RBI double and a balk by MATC's starter Michael Merline.

Trailing 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Stormers were able to flip the game on its head by tallying six of its 11 hits, which sparked a six-run inning. It all started when MATC found themselves in a bases-loaded no-out situation. With three ducks on the pond, Camdin Jansen recorded an RBI sac-fly that was quickly followed by an RBI single from Marco Falletti, a walk to Brady Johnson, and back-to-back RBI singles from Cole Wissen and Leonardo Zerillo. Tied 6-6, Hernandez ripped a walk-off RBI single, sending her entire entourage of teammates to come running and celebrate with him.

"It was great to put up six runs in the bottom of the seventh," Hernandez said. "I never really had any doubt going into our final at-bats. Once we got a few on, I knew we were just going to keep going until we pulled it off."

Merline earned the no-decision in a valiant start on the bump. The Stormers' ace surrendered seven hits and five runs over six innings, striking out four and walking three. Justin Schnell picked up the win in relief action, allowing one unearned run over one inning of work.

STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Hernandez led the Stormers with a walk-off RBI single. Falletti added a team-high three hits to go along with two RBIs and a run scored. Wissen went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jansen chipped in one double and an RBI.

Game 2: Another walk-off leads to doubleheader sweep
Fresh off a walk-off victory in Game 1, the Stormers managed to rally once again in the bottom of the seventh by securing another walk-off victory via a Brady Johnson walk-off RBI hit-by-pitch with the bases-loaded and two outs. Johnson's ability to take one for the team helped MATC take a 2-1 victory in seven innings.

"It definitely felt good to take that pitch for my teammates," Johnson said of his walk-off HBP. "Obviously everybody in that situation wants to get a hit, but just doing a job feels good too. Walking off a good team like JJC no matter how we did it was definitely a good win."

MATC's starter Max Mueller managed to keep the game close after another stellar outing on the rubber. Mueller went on to have a no-hitter bid last up until the top of the sixth inning, where he allowed two straight hits before getting out of the inning unscathed. He concluded his start allowing zero runs and two hits over six innings, striking out three and walking a pair.

"Mueller did an amazing job throwing six strong innings," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "He really did great, limiting the damage to zero runs."

A double by Ryan Quello broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fifth, but JCC was able to tie the game in the top of the seventh when Ethan Engelbrecht came in to relieve Mueller. Engelbrecht surrendered a leadoff walk that was immediately followed by a defensive error that gave the Wolves' runners on first and second with no outs. Needing to limit the damage, Engelbrecht got the next hitter to ground out into a fielder's choice before allowing an RBI sac-bunt, which tied the game 1-1. With a runner on second and two-outs, Engelbrecht got JJC to flyout for its final out of the inning.

"That was big of Engelbrecht to get out of the seventh by only giving up one run," Johnson said. "When JJC is bunting and playing small-ball, it's definitely hard to defend at the college level because guys are advanced in that aspect."

Back-to-back leadoff singles from Jake Hall and Easton Morehouse in the bottom of the seventh helped jumpstart the Stormers' comeback bid. It led to MATC finding themselves with the bases-loaded and two-outs after JJC intentionally walked Marco Falletti. With the game in the balance, Johnson took a hit-by-pitch to seal the win and complete the sweep.

"Hall did a really good job and he's been that guy lately," Bounds said of Hall's ability to kick-start MATC's offense in the seventh. "He's been getting us a double every single game and so we're riding that. He's got a hot-bat right now and he got us a great spark in the seventh."

STAT BOOK (Game 2)
Johnson went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk-off RBI hit-by-pitch to help lead the Stormers' offense. Cole Wissen added three singles. Hall contributed two hits and two runs scored. Quello chipped in an RBI double. Engelbrecht picked up the win in relief, allowing one unearned run on zero hits over one inning. Mueller fired six strong innings, giving up two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

UP NEXT
MATC (24-15) will travel to Kishwaukee College Monday for a road doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.