OAK CREEK, Wis. – Playing in its final two home games of the regular season Friday against Oakton, the Milwaukee Area Technical College softball team had little trouble dismantling the Owls by earning back-to-back mercy rule victories.
In Game 1, the Stormers scored eight of their 10 runs off homers to help claim a 10-1 victory in five innings. In the nightcap, freshman
Jayden Moss had a career day, smacking three home runs in a 17-1 victory in five innings to complete the series sweep.
As a result of the pair of wins, MATC moved to 29-21 while concluding the regular season with a 16-7 home record.
"It's a great way to salute the sophomores for all the hard work they've put in the last two years by getting this program going," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said of his team's ability to win the final two home games of the regular season.
Game 1: Carani, Pagano power Stormers to blowout win
MATC only needed three swings to help plate eight runs in Game 1 thanks to the long ball ability from sophomore
Ryen Pagano and fellow freshman
Mia Carani.
The two power hitters combined to drive in eight runs off three homers. Carani homered in the second (two-run homer) and third innings (three-run homer) while Pagano smacked her own three-run blast in the fourth.
"I think me and Pagano work really hard and I always tell her to do her best," Carani said of Pagano. "She's [Pagano] flourishing a lot more now and I can see she's a lot more confident. That's why she's doing so well and just all the support all around helps me do well too."
In addition to raw power displayed by Carani and Pagano, MATC got incredible production from its starter
Eleanor Henschel. The sophomore righty hurled one of her best outings to date, giving up just one unearned run on three hits while striking out four and walking two over a complete-game effort to earn the win.
"Henschel was fantastic in her final home game of the season," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "It's great to see her have her moment."
Henschel's lone run given up in the top of the first came off a throwing error after forcing Oakton's Genciana Ortiz into a rollover with a runner on first. MATC trailed 1-0 through one before Carani barreled her first homer of the day, a two-run shot to center field to give the Stormers a one-run lead.
MATC broke things open with a five-run third-inning.
Jordan Hanserd doubled, scoring one run,
Ryen Pagano hit a sac-fly, scoring one run, and Carani smacked a three-run homer. Pagano later added to the scoreboard by connecting on a three-run home run in the fourth to extend the lead to nine.
STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Carani went 2-for-3 with two home runs and a team-high five RBIs to lead the Stormers at the plate. Pagano added a three-run homer and four RBIs.
Sophia Hansen collected three hits and two runs scored.
Jayden Moss contributed two doubles, one single, and two runs. Henschel picked up the win over a complete-game effort.
Game 2: Jayden Moss has a career day at the plate, smacks three homers
MATC shortstop
Jayden Moss had a career day at the plate, totaling three homers for a team-high eight RBIs as the Stormers defeated Oakton, 17-1, in five innings to help complete the series sweep.
Moss' production came early and often. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Moss barreled a three-run homer to give her squad a 3-1 lead. She later recorded an RBI sac-fly in the second before going on to connect on a two-run blast in each of the third and fourth innings.
"I credit my career day to
Zoey Murph because she helps me in the batting cages and she helps me get my timing down," Moss said of her career day. "I was just looking for anything back in the zone because I'm always early on everything and so I was just looking to wait and sit back for my pitch."
MATC scored two or more runs in all four innings they were at the plate. Its best inning came in the second, where they went on to plate eight runs on five hits that were aided by three walks and a hit-by-pitch. An error scored one run, Moss hit a sac-fly, scoring one run,
Taylor Wilson singled, scoring two runs, Murph drew a walk, scoring one run, Madi Johnson Hass singled, scoring two runs, and
Ava D'Acquisto singled, scoring one run.
The Stormers' defense also matched their play of their offense. MATC starter
Jordan Hanserd earned the win in a complete-game effort, allowing three hits and one run over five innings, striking out four and walking one.
"It was great to see Hanserd with a bounceback performance on the mound," Kuntner said. "When her pitches are all working, she's very tough to hit off of."
MATC tallied 15 hits and 16 RBIs at the plate.
Emily Pujanauski, D'Acquisto, Moss, and Wilson each had multi-hit efforts. Defensively, the Stormers finished without a single error in the field.
STAT BOOK (Game 2)
Moss set a new career-high by recording three home runs for a team-high eight RBIs to help lead the Stormers with the sticks.
Sophia Hansen added one double and a run scored. D'Acquisto contributed two singles and a pair of RBIs. Wilson collected two hits, two RBIs and one run. Johnson Hass had a two-RBI single and Pujanauski chipped in two singles and a run. Hanserd earned the win, tossing five innings and recording four punchouts.
UP NEXT
MATC (29-21) will travel to South Suburban Sunday for a road doubleheader beginning at noon.
