GALESBURG, Ill. — MATC's bats delivered a knockout punch in the opener, but the momentum didn't carry into the nightcap as the Stormers split Monday's road doubleheader at Carl Sandburg. A seven‑run sixth inning, punctuated by a grand slam, powered MATC to a 14–7 win in Game 1 before an early 10–0 deficit led to a 13–3, five‑inning loss in Game 2.

Game 1: MATC 14, Carl Sandburg 7
MATC's offense erupted in the opener, piling up 14 runs, three home runs and a decisive seven‑run sixth inning to pull away for a 14–7 win.

"We had a great start to the day by taking Game 1," MATC head coach Caleb Bounds said. "The offense stepped up with multiple extra‑base hits, and Nolan did a great job coming out of the bullpen to shut the door and finish it."

MATC opened the scoring in the top of the first as Carson Sieler drove a solo homer to center for a quick 1–0 lead. Carl Sandburg responded in the bottom half, pushing across a run on an RBI single off MATC starter Payten Jibben to tie it.

MATC jumped back in front in the second when Gavin Garnica launched a solo homer to left for a 2–1 lead. A bases‑loaded hit‑by‑pitch added another run, but Sandburg responded immediately with a three‑run inning — fueled by three walks and a defensive miscue — to take a 4–3 lead.

After a scoreless third, MATC surged back in front with a four‑run fourth inning. The Stormers strung together three RBI singles and added a run on a sacrifice bunt to take a 7–4 lead.

Reliever Ian Head entered in the bottom of the fourth and worked through a high‑traffic inning. After allowing back‑to‑back singles and later walking in a run, he regrouped and fired consecutive strikeouts to escape a bases‑loaded jam and preserve the lead.

MATC then broke the game open in the sixth. The Stormers sent 10 batters to the plate, collecting three hits and four walks in a seven‑run outburst highlighted by a Tyler Lee grand slam that stretched the margin to 14–5.

Nolan Litkowiec closed out the final three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Starter Payten Jibben worked the first three innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out five. Head (1–1) earned the win with one inning of relief, giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Garnica led the Stormers at the plate, going 3‑for‑4 with four RBIs, two runs scored and a solo homer. Lee added a grand slam, a single and two runs scored. Jibben chipped in two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Game 2: Carl Sandburg 13, MATC 3 (5 innings)
MATC couldn't carry its offensive momentum into the nightcap, falling behind early and never recovering in a 13–3, five‑inning loss to close the doubleheader.

"In Game 2 we just needed more energy from the start," Bunds said. "You have to keep the same intensity after winning the opener. It's never easy to win two games in a day, and I thought Carl Sandburg came out with more urgency to begin the game. We just have to learn from that and make sure we're more locked in and engaged for Game 2s."

Carl Sandburg seized control immediately, jumping on MATC starter Jerry Vasek for three runs in the first inning on a three‑run homer. The Chargers continued to apply pressure in the second, stringing together hits and capitalizing on traffic to score seven more and build a 10–0 lead after two innings. Vasek took the loss, working 1.1 innings and allowing seven earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.

After going down in order in each of the first two innings, MATC finally broke through in the third. Blake Bugher sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and after Lucas Hernandez drew a walk, Jaiden Jung ripped a double to left to score both runners and cut the deficit to 10–2.

The Stormers added another run in the fourth when Tyler Lee singled and Bugher followed with a double to drive him in, trimming the margin to 10–3. But Sandburg answered immediately in the bottom half, launching two more home runs to push the lead back out and remove any chance of a late surge.

MATC threatened to extend the game in the fifth, loading the bases on three walks, but Lee grounded into a game‑ending double play to close out the run‑rule loss.

Bugher paced the Stormers with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Jung added a two‑run double, while Gavin Garnica and Lee each singled once.

UP NEXT
MATC (6–10) returns home Friday for a doubleheader against Harper College, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Oak Creek.