DES PLAINES, Ill. — Milwaukee Area Technical College softball delivered a strong response at the MATC Invitational over the weekend, winning four of five games at The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex. The Stormers, who entered the event 0–5 overall, defeated Harper, Oakton, Highland and Sauk Valley before falling 1–0 to Kishwaukee in Sunday's finale.
MATC's offense found its rhythm early in the tournament, producing 20 runs across Friday's two victories, while the pitching staff and defense tightened up as the weekend progressed. The Stormers capped the event with a shutout win over Highland and a convincing performance against Sauk Valley before running into a pitchers' duel to close the weekend.
"I'm proud of the way our team bounced back from our Missouri trip," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "Our group locked in during practice this week, and the results showed throughout the weekend. Coming off an 0–5 start, it was great to see us respond the way we did, especially with some strong individual performances — like Mia Tearney, who delivered two outstanding outings in the circle, and
Amira Baldon, who went 3‑for‑3 in the Highland game and played with confidence defensively in the infield. I'm confident in our team's abilities as we continue to come together, and I'm looking forward to the rest of our season in Region 4 play."
Game 1: MATC 8, Harper 3
MATC opened the invitational with its sharpest outing of the season, earning its first win of the year behind a dominant performance in the circle and a breakout day at the plate.
Maiya Tearney set the tone from the start, striking out 10 and allowing just three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in a complete‑game effort to secure her first career victory as a Stormer.
The Stormers broke through in the fourth after
Emma Roeper led off with a single,
Mia Carani was hit by a pitch, and Tearney reached on a bunt single to load the bases.
Amira Baldon delivered the game's first big swing, ripping a three‑RBI triple to right‑center to give MATC a 3–1 lead.
MATC extended the margin in the fifth when
Ellie Brzek and
Caia Lund opened the inning with back‑to‑back home runs. The Stormers kept the pressure on as Carani added an RBI single, Baldon doubled home another run, and
Jayden Moss drove in a run with a groundout to push the lead to 8–1.
Harper plated two runs on a double in the sixth, but Tearney closed the door to finish off the win. Baldon led the offense, going 2‑for‑4 with four RBIs, a triple and a run scored.
Game 2: MATC 12, Oakton 4
MATC carried its momentum straight into the second game of the day, erupting for 12 runs to complete a Friday sweep. The Stormers produced consistent hard contact throughout the lineup, stringing together three separate multi‑run innings and never allowing Oakton to settle in defensively.
The scoring started early when
Lily Dorado doubled home Tearney (single) and Baldon (fielder's choice) in the first inning, and Moss added an RBI single to make it 3–0. MATC tacked on another run in the third as Carani tagged and scored on a Baldon lineout to center.
Oakton briefly climbed back into the game with a three‑run fourth, taking advantage of two hits and three walks, but the Stormers immediately responded. Dorado delivered again in the fifth with her second RBI double of the day, pushing the lead to 5–3.
Hallie Knurowski followed with an RBI single in the sixth, and Tearney added a sacrifice fly to extend the margin to 7–3.
MATC broke the game open in the seventh, capitalizing on four free passes and three hits to plate four more runs and put the game out of reach.
Carani powered the offense with a perfect 5‑for‑5 performance that included three doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Tearney and Dorado each finished with three hits and two runs, with Dorado driving in three and Tearney adding two RBIs.
Brzek earned the win in the circle, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on five walks with three strikeouts.
Game 3: MATC 3, Highland 0
MATC leaned on its pitching and defense in Saturday's opener, shutting out Highland 3–0 behind the best performance of the season from Tearney. The freshman right‑hander was in complete command throughout, tossing a seven‑inning three‑hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks to earn her second win of the weekend.
The Stormers struck early when Roeper opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff double and later scored on a Baldon RBI single. MATC added to the lead in the second after Moss reached on a leadoff single and Brzek followed by driving a two‑run homer to make it 3–0.
Baldon led the Stormers at the plate, finishing 3‑for‑3 with a double and an RBI, while Brzek added a 1‑for‑2 line highlighted by her two‑run shot. Tearney handled the rest, retiring hitters efficiently and never allowing Highland to mount a serious threat.
Game 4: MATC 11, Sauk Valley 4
The Stormers returned to their offensive form on Sunday morning, rolling past Sauk Valley 11–4 behind a seven‑run second inning that broke the game open. MATC struck first with RBI singles from Tearney and Baldon in the bottom of the first to take a 2–0 lead, but Sauk Valley answered with three runs in the top of the second, capitalizing on a defensive error and an RBI triple.
MATC responded immediately and emphatically. Seven hits, a walk and multiple defensive miscues fueled a seven‑run bottom of the second, highlighted by RBI singles from
Somer Beckman, Tearney, Knurowski and Kenzie Herther as the Stormers surged ahead 9–3.
Sauk Valley trimmed the margin to 9–4 with an RBI double in the fifth, but MATC added two insurance runs in the sixth. Baldon drove in a run with an RBI triple, and Beckman followed with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 11–4.
Brooke Peters earned her first collegiate win in the circle, throwing a complete game while allowing six hits and four runs (one earned) with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Six Stormers recorded multi‑hit games, as Herther, Moss, Baldon, Tearney, Carani and Roeper each finished with two hits to lead a balanced and productive offensive effort.
Game 5: Kishwaukee 1, MATC 0
MATC's bid for a perfect weekend ended in a tight pitchers' duel, as Kishwaukee edged the Stormers 1–0 on a walk‑off in Sunday's finale. Both teams limited scoring chances throughout, and a single unearned run in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference.
Tearney was outstanding once again, taking a tough‑luck loss despite tossing 6.2 innings and allowing just three hits, one unearned run, three walks and two strikeouts. She carried a shutout into the final frame before a leadoff walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt and another walk loaded the bases. Tearney induced a fielder's choice for the second out, but a groundball error allowed the winning run to score.
Offensively, MATC was held in check, with Carani recording the Stormers' lone hit on a single in the top of the seventh.
Despite the narrow defeat, MATC closed the invitational with four wins in five games and significant momentum heading into the next week.
UP NEXT
MATC (4–6) returns to action on Saturday, hosting Alverno College for an exhibition doubleheader in Oak Creek, Wis. The Stormers and Inferno are scheduled to play at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
