OAK CREEK, Wis. — MATC's home opener didn't unfold the way the Stormers hoped Monday afternoon, as College of Lake County swept the doubleheader with 4–0 and 6–3 wins to drop MATC to 4–8 overall.

MATC struggled to generate offense in the opener, managing just two hits and producing mostly weak contact throughout a 4–0 loss. The Stormers were held scoreless in all seven innings and rarely threatened, as CLC starter Olivia Peters induced a steady diet of soft popups and quick outs. Game 2 brought a different issue, as seven defensive errors proved costly and led to four unearned runs that swung a competitive matchup into a 6–3 defeat.

"We were very competitive in both games," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We still have a lot of work to do and we have a long way to go to take that next step."

Game 1: College of Lake County 4, MATC 0
MATC flashed strong defensive moments in the opener but couldn't find enough offense to match them, managing just two hits in a 4–0 loss. The Stormers put the ball in play throughout the afternoon but struggled to drive anything with authority, producing eight infield or foul‑territory popups against CLC starter Olivia Peters, who tossed a complete‑game shutout with five strikeouts and no walks.

"Defensively we played great and we made some plays with runners on the base paths," Kuntner said. "Offensively, we just didn't adjust to the pitching. That's the bottom line. We had way too many popups and soft contact."

MATC's best early chance came in the bottom of the first, when Emma Roeper led off with a single to left and advanced to third on a pair of productive outs. She was stranded there, and the Stormers wouldn't get another runner that far the rest of the game. Their only other hit came in the sixth on an Aniesa Neave leadoff single, but she was erased moments later on a double play.

Ellie Brzek went the distance for MATC, allowing four runs  (three earned) on three walks and three strikeouts. She kept the Stormers within reach throughout, but CLC broke through with RBI groundouts in the second and third innings, then added two more in the sixth after three straight singles loaded the bases. A fielder's‑choice RBI and another RBI groundout helped  stretch the lead to 4–0, and MATC never found the offensive spark needed to answer.

Game 2: College of Lake County 6, MATC 3
MATC couldn't overcome seven defensive errors in the nightcap, falling 6–3 despite another productive start behind ace Maiya Tearney.

"We didn't score enough to win the game, but we scored enough to be competitive," Kuntner said. "Everything we did defensively, we gave them the game."

The Stormers opened with one of their most intricate defensive sequences of the season. With runners on second and third and one out in the first, Tearney induced a grounder to shortstop Jayden Moss, who fired home to start a rundown. The play quickly turned chaotic as both CLC runners became caught between bases, leading to multiple exchanges involving Moss, catcher Emma Roeper, pitcher Ellie Brzek covering the plate, and the middle infield. MATC ultimately recorded outs at both second and home to complete a double play and end the threat.

Still tied 0-0 through two innings, CLC broke through in the third, scoring the game's first run on an infield grounder that turned into an error with a runner on second. The Lancers added two more in the fourth after back‑to‑back singles set up an RBI single and an RBI groundout for a 3–0 lead.

MATC had opportunities early but stranded four runners across the first four innings before finally breaking through in the fifth. Aniesa Neave jump‑started the rally with a leadoff triple down the right‑field line, and two batters later, Roeper drove her in by reaching on an error. Tearney followed with a single to move Roeper to third, and Amira Baldon delivered an RBI single to pull the Stormers within 3–2.

"Neave is a spark plug — she always has been for us," Kuntner said. "She's also a leader in the dugout, and I was very proud of how she came back and got us going in the fifth."

But the momentum shifted quickly. A leadoff single in the sixth sparked a two‑run inning for CLC, with both runs scoring on back‑to‑back infield errors that stretched the deficit to 5–2. MATC went down in order in the bottom half.

CLC added insurance in the seventh with a leadoff single and an RBI double to make it 6–2. The Stormers mounted one last push in the bottom half when Hallie Knurowski and Roeper opened the inning with back‑to‑back singles. A groundout moved both runners into scoring position, and Tearney lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home a run, but a groundout ended the rally.

Brzek paced the MATC offense, finishing 2‑for‑3 with a pair of singles, while Baldon added an RBI single and Neave tripled and scored. Tearney contributed a sacrifice fly for the Stormers' other RBI. In the circle, Tearney took the loss despite keeping MATC within reach, working six innings and allowing eight hits and five runs (only two earned) with two walks and one strikeout. Chloe Lago handled the seventh in relief, allowing one earned run on two hits with no walks and no strikeouts.

UP NEXT
MATC (4–8) returns to action Thursday with a home doubleheader against Elgin Community College, with first pitch scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m. in Oak Creek.