OAK CREEK, Wisc. — MATC snapped a three‑game skid in emphatic fashion Friday, riding Jacob Lequia's 11‑strikeout gem in a 6–1 opener and an 11–1, five‑inning surge in Game 2 powered by two home runs and a complete‑game effort from
Ethan Engelbrecht to sweep Kishwaukee at home. The Stormers improved to 8–12 overall with one of their most complete days of the season.
MATC head coach
Caleb Bounds said the group responded exactly the way he hoped after a tough stretch.
"The boys did a great job against Kishwaukee," Bounds said. "Lequia and Engelbrecht both gave us stellar starts. Lequia was dialed in from the first inning with us giving him run support to start the game, and he was able to just settle in and kind of cruise throughout the day.
"Engelbrecht started off a little bumpy, but after the second inning he flipped the switch and pitched the way we know he can. The offense and defense also did a great job."
Game 1: Stormers 6, Kishwaukee 1
MATC rode another overpowering outing from ace Jacob Lequia (2-1) and a fast‑starting offense to a 6–1 win over Kishwaukee in Friday's opener, setting the tone for a dominant sweep at home.
Lequia was electric from the first pitch, recording his first six outs via strikeout and keeping the Kougars off balance through five strong innings. The Stormers backed him immediately with a three‑run first inning, sparked by a leadoff walk to
Carson Sieler and a hit‑by‑pitch to
Jaiden Jung.
Payten Jibben opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Sieler, Jung then stole home to make it 2–0, and Jibben later crossed on a wild pitch for a 3–0 lead after one.
Kishwaukee cut the margin to 3–1 in the fourth on a solo homer, but MATC answered in the bottom half when
Gavin Garnica doubled to lead off and later scored on a
Tyler Lee sacrifice fly. The Stormers added two more in the fifth: Jung and
Hayden Fellows delivered back‑to‑back singles, Jibben drew a walk to load the bases, and
Blake Bugher punched a two‑run single to extend the lead to 6–1.
Lequia finished with five innings of one‑run ball, allowing just three hits while striking out nine.
Max Nottingham closed the door with two scoreless innings, earning the save with one hit, two walks, and a strikeout.
Bugher led the Stormers at the plate, going 1‑for‑3 with two RBIs. Sieler and Garnica each added doubles and a run scored. Fellows, Jung, and Jibben each contributed singles.
Game 2: Stormers 11, Kishwaukee 1 (5 innings)
MATC completed the sweep with an 11–1 run‑rule win in five innings, breaking the game open with scoring bursts of three, three, and four runs across the first three frames while outhitting Kishwaukee 11–3.
The Stormers struck immediately in the first.
Carson Sieler doubled to lead off, and
Hayden Fellows followed with an RBI triple to put MATC on the board. One batter later,
Payten Jibben launched a two‑run homer to left, stretching the lead to 3–0.
Kishwaukee pushed across its lone run in the second after a leadoff double and a walk set up a bunt attempt that resulted in an error, trimming the margin to 3–1. MATC answered right back in the bottom half, scoring three runs on four hits, including three singles, and two walks to rebuild a comfortable cushion.
The Stormers kept rolling in the third. Two straight walks and a single loaded the bases before Sieler lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 7–1. Moments later,
Jaiden Jung delivered the biggest swing of the day, crushing a three‑run homer to left to push the lead to 10–1.
MATC loaded the bases again in the fifth, and
Blake Bugher drew an RBI walk to plate the final run and secure the run‑rule victory.
Ethan Engelbrecht went the distance in the five‑inning win, striking out eight while allowing just one unearned run on three hits and three walks.
Jung led the Stormers at the plate, going 2‑for‑3 with a team‑high four RBIs and a run scored. Sieler finished 2‑for‑2 with two RBIs and two runs, while Fellows added a 2‑for‑2 line with an RBI and a run scored.
