OAK CREEK, Wis. — MATC baseball closed the weekend out strong by earning back-to-back home victories over Illinois Valley Commuity College Sunday.

In Game 1, the Stormers picked up an 8-0 win via shutout before going on to take Game 2, 7-6, over seven innings. Both wins helped MATC extend its winning streak to four games while also moving its overall record to 29-19, including a 19-17 record in Region 4 play.

"It felt good winning both games," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "I thought we did a really good job collectively winning both games. Multiple people stepped up to get us the sweep."

Game 1: Catalano deals complete-game shutout
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jake Catalano struck out 10 batters over seven innings as the Stormers went on to claim an 8-0 shutout victory over Illinois Valley. Catalano (3-4) allowed just one hit and zero runs over a complete-game effort while walking two to earn his third win on the rubber.

"It was good obviously because in my last couple of outings I was struggling to compete in the strike zone," Catalano said of his first complete-game gem of the year. "That was my main focus today, to compete in the zone and use my breaking ball where I wanted to, and that's what happened today. That's where my success came from today."

After surrendering a leadoff walk to Brady Romagnoli in the top of the first, who was later thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Brady Johnson, Catalano dialed in and retired nine straight batters before allowing his first hit, a one-out double in the top of the fourth. Catalano's dominance on the mound was in part due to MATC breaking things open with a five-run first-inning.

The Stormers' offense scored five runs in the first off five hits that were aided by a walk to Brady Johnson. Robert Crawford III hit a leadoff double, which set up Marco Falletti for a one-out RBI single. With Falletti on third (single), Johnson on second (walk), and Cole Wissen on first (single), Carlito Collins recorded an RBI sac-fly before Lucas Hernadez drove in a pair on a two-RBI double. Leading 4-0, Riley Emons barreled an RBI single to help plate Hernandez and make it 5-0.

"The bats have been huge for us all year long and obviously a five-spot in the first takes a lot of weight off my shoulders," Catalano said. "That's the main thing, is to have as little pressure as possible and I think my offense helped me do that today. We played loose and that's how we got the first win."

MATC was able to add to its lead in each of the second and fifth innings. Jansen reached all the way to third on a defensive error on a flyball to right field, which set up Falletti for an RBI groundout to put the Stormers up 6-0 in the second.

In the fifth, a leadoff walk to Johnson set up Wissen for an RBI triple to extend the lead to seven runs. With one-out and Wissen still on third, Lucas Hernadez hit a clutch two-strike RBI sac-fly to give the Stormers their final run of the game.



STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Hernadez went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Stormers' offense. Wissen added two singles, one RBI and two runs scored. Falletti contributed two RBIs and one single. Crawford III and Emons each had one hit apiece. Catalano (3-4) claimed the win over seven innings of work, striking out 10 and walking two.

Game 2: Stormers edge IVC in nail-bitter
MATC jumped out to a four-run lead in the third before going on to hold on for a 6-5 victory in seven innings over IVCC.

The Stormers went up 4-0 in the third after Marco Falletti doubled, scoring one run, Cole Wissen singled, scoring two runs, and Leonardo Zerillo singled, scoring one run. In the ensuing inning in the top of the fourth, the Eagles' countered with their own four-run inning thanks to two RBI singles, a tag up, and a steal home on a wild pitch.

"You love seeing that four-spot on five hits, but you'd like to get their starter out earlier," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "You'd like to continue to add runs, especially because they came back in the fourth and put up a four-spot of their own to make it a brand new ball game."

MATC would go on to break the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the fourth. Lucas Hernadez recorded a double to plate Peyton Flees (single). Hernandez later added to his team's lead by barreling an RBI sac-fly in the sixth to score Flees (single) and give the Stormers an insurance run.

"We were able to get another run there to extend the lead to two in the sixth and that's been big for us," Bounds siad. "We've done that a few times this year and it's been the winning run for us."

Taking a two-run lead into the seventh, closer Evan Phillips allowed a leadoff walk to General Schofield, who later scored on a wild pitch. Phillips was eventually relieved of his duties for Dvorak after letting runners on first and third with two-outs. Dvorak got the final out via a flyout to help complete the series sweep.

A key part to the Stormers ability to hold off the Eagles were their ability to keep runners from scoring. MATC forced IVCC to leave 14 runners on base over seven innings. The two biggest innings came in the top of the first for Stormers' starter Jake Lequia and the top of the sixth for reliever Colin Weist.

To open the game, Lequia allowed back-to-back leadoff singles before recording a strikeout. He then walked another to load to bases, but got out of the jam unscathed after getting a line out and a strikeout.

In the sixth, Weist gave up back-to-back leadoff singles before throwing out a runner trying to advance to third on a sac-bunt attempt from Johnny Riva. Weist then walked the next batter to load the bases with one out before getting the next two hitters out via a pop out and a strikeout.

"That's kind of what coach Bounds uses me for, is those high-pressure situations and so I'm kind of used to that," Weist said. "Even though I started the inning kind of doing it to myself. I just reminded myself to bear down and to focus on my mechanics. That really helped me."

Weist earned the win in relief action. The righty gave up two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out one and walking one. Lequia began the game for the Stormers and earned the no-decision. He allowed seven hits and four runs over three and one-third innings, striking out three and walking two. Dvorak collected the save, giving up zero hits and zero runs over ⅓ innings.

"Those moments were really big and it shows what the guys' have heart-wise and stuff-wise," Bounds said. "It was really good to see it and see them battle through that adversity and come out ahead."

STAT BOOK (Game 2)
Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a double and team-high two RBIs to help lead the Stormers with the sticks. Flees and Ryan Quello each had two hits apiece. Cole Wissen contributed two singles and one stolen base. Leonardo Zerillo and Falletti chipped in one hit and one RBI. Weist (1-0) earned his first win of the season and Dvorak claimed the save.



UP NEXT
MATC (29-19) will travel to College of DuPage Monday at 3 p.m. to resume its suspended game from Apr. 17.