UNION, Mo. — Milwaukee Area Technical College opened its 2026 baseball season with a four‑game set at East Central in St. Louis, using the weekend as an early chance to shake off winter rust and settle into live competition. The Stormers closed the trip on a high note with a 14–3 win in Friday's finale after dropping the first three games of the series.

After weeks of indoor work and limited live looks, the Stormers used the St. Louis trip to test early lineup combinations and settle into game speed against a consistent East Central club. Even with three narrow setbacks to start the series, MATC welcomed the chance to compete outdoors and build a foundation for the weeks ahead.

"It was nice to get outside and compete over the weekend," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "We had some really nice performances from some individuals. We just have to limit the mistakes and walks, and finish games late. I believe we blew two leads in the 5th inning or later. I really liked how our team fought back in the last game to salvage a win to end the series. I hope we can take that victory and help us move forward on a positive note into our next series against Highland."

MATC opened the series with a narrow 5–4 loss in Thursday's opener before East Central pulled away late in a 7–1 decision in the second game. The Falcons kept their momentum rolling into Friday's first matchup, handing the Stormers a 10–3 setback, but MATC answered with its best performance of the weekend in the finale, erupting for 14 runs in a five‑inning win to close the trip on a strong note.

Game 1: East Central 5, Stormers 4 (9 innings)

• MATC rallied from a 4–0 deficit with three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game before East Central walked it off in the ninth.
• Brady Johnson led the offense, going 2‑for‑5 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
• Riley Emons drove in two runs, including a fifth‑inning sacrifice fly that pulled MATC within 4–3.
• Payten Jibben reached twice (single, walk) and added a stolen base, while Easton Morehouse doubled, scored and stole two bags.
• The Stormers totaled six hits and five stolen bases, generating late pressure in the comeback effort.
• Jakeb Lequia worked the first 3.0 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts.
• Connor Ziman followed with 1.0 inning, giving up one run on two hits.
• Trey Jones delivered a strong bridge outing, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings with one strikeout and no hits allowed.
• Isaiah Head took the loss, allowing one run over 2.2 innings while striking out two.

Game 2: East Central 7, Stormers 1 (7 innings)

• MATC struck first in the second inning when Lucas Hernandez lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jaiden Jung, giving the Stormers a brief 1–0 lead.
• East Central answered with single runs in the third and fourth before adding two in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull away.
• The Stormers totaled five hits, led by Gavin Garnica's double, while Johnson, Jung, Tyler Lee and Morehouse each added a hit.
• Jung scored MATC's lone run and reached base twice (hit, reached on error).
• Ethan Engelbrecht started and worked 4.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit while striking out five.
• Bralen Mitcham followed with 1.0 inning, giving up two runs on one hit with two strikeouts.
• Zakary Vanlerberghe closed the final inning, allowing three runs on three hits.

Game 3: East Central 10, Stormers 3 (7 innings)

• MATC grabbed its first lead of the series with a run in the third and added two more in the fourth before East Central answered with three in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth to pull away.
• The Stormers totaled seven hits, highlighted by extra‑base power from Jung (double), Emons (double) and Morehouse (triple).
• Morehouse drove in a run and scored once, while Garnica added a sacrifice fly and RBI to tie the game 3–3 in the fourth.
• Johnson, Lee and Carson Sieler each added singles, with Sieler reaching base twice (hit, walk).
• Payten Jibben started and worked 4.2 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out eight.
• Vince Cameranesi recorded the final out of the fifth, working 0.1 scoreless with two walks.
• Alex Dvorak and Charlie Cefalu handled the sixth, combining to allow five runs as East Central broke the game open.

Game 4: Stormers 14, East Central 3 (5 innings)

• MATC closed the series with its most explosive outing of the weekend, scoring three in the first, seven in the third and three more in the fifth to secure a run‑rule win.
• The Stormers produced eight hits but maximized traffic with seven walks, turning nearly every baserunner into pressure.
• Hayden Fellows powered the offense with a 2‑for‑2, 3‑RBI performance, including a double and a sacrifice fly.
• Morehouse added a 2‑for‑3 day with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Garnica drove in two more as part of the seven‑run third.
• Jibben reached base three times (hit, two walks) and scored twice; Austin Arnold also scored twice and added a hit. Sieler, Lee and Peyton Flees each contributed an RBI as MATC posted its highest run total of the young season. Nate Birkhimer started and worked 2.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Jerry Vasek earned the win with 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out four and walking three.

UP NEXT
MATC (1–3) heads to Lafayette, Ind., for a four‑game weekend at Loeb Stadium, opening Friday with an 11 a.m. matchup against Highland Community College before facing Ancilla at 2 p.m. The Stormers meet both opponents again on Saturday, taking on Highland at 11 a.m. and Ancilla in the 5 p.m. finale.