OAK CREEK, Wis. – Milwaukee Area Technical College softball proved it can play with anyone, besting Madison College (16-7) by a combined three runs in a home doubleheader sweep Tuesday.

In Game 1, MATC was hitless through four innings before barrelling three home runs over the final three innings to help secure a 7-6 come-from-behind victory. Similarly to Game 1, the Stormers trailed 3-2 through five innings before a three-run sixth helped lift them to a two-run win in Game 2 to earn the sweep.

"These girls have no quit in them," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We had our down moments. Joliet [Junior College] was probably our lowest moment of the season [last weekend] in region play and so for them to come back and fire on all cylinders here, I'm just so happy for them."

Game 1: Multiple home runs lift Stormers to comeback win
Despite going hitless over the course of the first four innings in Game 1, the Stormers were able to rally to secure a walk-off win thanks to the long ball.

Trailing 5-0 midway through the fifth, MATC's Lily Dorado finally broke up Madison's starter Kendall Weik's no-hit bid with a one-out double, which helped put runners on second and third after Jayden Moss reached first on a leadoff walk. Two hitters later, Madi Johnson Hass smacked a three-run homer with two-outs to put the Stormers on the scoreboard.

Trailing 5-3 through five, the Stormers managed to score three more runs in the sixth inning, all of which came with two outs. Jordan Hanserd reached on a leadoff walk, followed by an Ava Marx single before the next two hitters recorded back-to-back outs via strikeout and a pop out. Ryen Pagano then clutched up for another three-run blast to put the home team ahead 6-5.

"We noticed a trend after the first three innings that for Weik's to throw a strike, she had to throw middle-in and so we told our hitters to focus on middle-in, wait for a strike and drive it and get a barrel on it," coach Kuntner said of his team's bats being able to come alive late. "They all did that."

Madison returned the favor by plating the tying run in the top of the seventh off one double that was aided by three defensive errors by the Stormers.

Tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, MATC only needed one at-bat to secure a walk-off win. Pinch hitter Emily Pujanauski fouled off the very first pitch of her at-bat before taking the second one deep over the centerfield fence to give her squad the walk-off victory.

"I didn't really have time to warm up and time the pitcher," Pujanauski said of her walk-off homer. "I just fouled off the first one and then she threw me the same pitch on the next one, so I barreled it. It felt really good to come up big for my teammates."

Outside of the clutch hitting late, the Stormers got solid efforts from starter Eleanor Henschel and relievers Jordan Hanserd and Lily Dorado. Henschel tossed three innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out three and walking one. Hanserd picked up the win in relief after surrendering three earned runs on five hits over two innings. Dorado fired two scoreless innings while only giving up one unearned run on one hit.

"It was a team effort," Pujanauski said. "I think everybody did their part. I think everybody did something in this game that contributed to the win."

STAT BOOK (Game 1)
Johnson Hass and Pagano each had three-run homers to collectively lead the Stormers at the plate. Pujanauski went 1-for-1 with a solo blast and Dorado chipped in a double and a run scored.

Game 2: Another late rally helps lift Stormers to doubleheader sweep
MATC completed the doubleheader sweep after outscoring Madison 4-1 over the final three innings of action.

MATC's Mia Carani played a large role in the Stormers' ability to secure their second come-from-behind win of the evening. Having gone 0-for-7 in her last seven at-bats dating back to Apr. 5, Carani stepped up huge by going 2-for-2 with a solo home run and go-ahead RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth.

"Today made me realize that I have to sit back and think about what I'm doing and make the corrections as I need to help my team," Carani said of her bounceback day at the plate. "I needed to use my hands and hips more, so I was focusing on that before the games because we haven't had much time to sit in practice and actually fix things.

"Maybe my little tweaks today helped out."

Trailing 3-2 through five innings, the Stormers sparked a three-run sixth-inning after Emily Pujanauski got things started with a leadoff single to open the carnage. With Pujanauski on second and Jayden Moss on first (single) with one-out, Zoey Murph knotted things up 3-3 after recording an RBI groundout. Down to their final out of the inning, Carani clutched up for an RBI triple that landed off of the centerfield fence to help pull her squad ahead for the first time since the Stormers had a 1-0 lead going into the second frame. Carani later scored off a defensive error to give her team an insurance run heading into the final inning.

"We need a fire under us to get going, but at least we got going," Carani said of her team's late-game surge. "I'm happy with these girls, we work hard. I really owe it to the girls because I feel like we hold ourselves accountable and push through adversity."

Outside of the late-game surge at the plate, the Stormers pitching staff was able to keep Madison's high-scoring offense off-balanced by throwing four separate arms in Game 2.

MATC's starting ace, Emma Staudt, displayed a valiant effort within the circle by allowing just two earned runs on seven hits over three innings. Reliever Lily Dorado then came in and allowed one earned run on three hits over 1 and ⅓ innings. Jordan Hanserd pitched 1 and ⅓ innings, giving up one hit and zero runs before Henschel closed things out with a scoreless seventh inning.

"Hats off to my assistant coach, Steve Champagne, for the pitching game plan that we put into effect," Kuntner said. "Our goal was to move our pitchers around and keep Madison's hitter guessing, and we did that."

STAT BOOK (Game 2)
Carani led the Stormers with a solo homer and an RBI triple. Sophia Hansen and Moss each had one single and one run apiece. Emily Pujanauski went 1-for-1 with a single. Rylyn Paulick and Murph each chipped in one RBI. Staudt lasted three innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Hanserd picked up the win in relief, allowing zero runs on one hit over 1 and ⅓ innings. Henschel picked up the save after firing a scoreless seventh inning.

UP NEXT
MATC (16-17) will host Harper College Thursday for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.