OAK CREEK, Wis. — MATC softball snapped a six‑game losing streak and earned its first home win of the season Wednesday, rallying for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Triton 7–5 in Game 2 to salvage a doubleheader split. The Stormers dropped the opener 5–3, but responded with their most timely inning of the year against one of Region 4's premier opponents, improving them to 1–3 at home.

Game 1: Triton 5, MATC 3 (7 innings)
MATC hung with Triton for most of the opener and carried a 2–1 lead into the sixth inning, but a four‑run surge by the Trojans in the late frames proved decisive as the Stormers fell 5–3.

Triton opened the scoring in the first, capitalizing on an MATC defensive error that extended the inning and set up an RBI single against starter Mya Tearney. The Stormers answered immediately. With two outs in the bottom half, Rylyn Paulick worked a walk and Amira Baldon followed with a double to left to tie the game at 1–1.

MATC took the lead in the fourth with a well‑executed small‑ball sequence. Ellie Brzek drew a leadoff walk, Tearney moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, and Jayden Moss delivered a two‑strike RBI single to center for a 2–1 advantage.

Tearney settled in after the first inning, retiring hitters efficiently and allowing no hits across the second, third, fourth and fifth. Triton finally broke through in the sixth, stringing together a leadoff double, a single and an RBI double to tie the game. Another single chased Tearney from the circle, and reliever Lily Dorado induced a foul popout, but the runner at third tagged and scored. Triton added two more RBI doubles off Dorado before the inning ended, building a 5–2 lead.

Trailing by three, MATC continued to create chances. The Stormers put two runners on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but couldn't cash in. They scratched across a run in the seventh when Paulick singled and later stole home, but the rally ended with the tying run still in the on‑deck circle.

"To beat good teams like Triton you have to get that big hit in those crucial situations where runners are in scoring position," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We left two runners on multiple times, and it's hard to beat teams like this when that happens and they have consistent pitching and defense."

Baldon and Emma Roeper led the Stormers with two hits each, while Mia Carani, Paulick, Aniesa Neave, Moss and Caia Lund added one hit apiece.

Tearney (2–5) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Dorado recorded one out and allowed one earned run on two hits, and Brooke Peters closed the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.

Game 2: MATC 7, Triton 5 (7 innings)
MATC leaned on timely defense, clutch relief pitching and a four‑run sixth inning to rally past Triton 7–5 in the nightcap, snapping a six‑game losing streak and securing its first home win of the season.

Triton built a 3–0 lead through the first three innings, but the Stormers stayed within reach thanks to a critical escape by reliever Jordan Hansard. After starter Ellie Brzek allowed a walk, single and two‑run single in the third, Hansard entered with two runners aboard and immediately recorded a fielder's‑choice out at second. She issued a walk to load the bases but ended the inning unscathed with a foul‑territory popout.

"I was ecstatic Hansard provided the spark we needed to shut down Triton's offense," Kuntner said. "She has the ability to take over a game with the spin she has on her pitches, keeping opposing hitters off balance."

MATC's defense continued to deliver momentum‑saving plays. In the fourth, left fielder Aniesa Neave made the defensive play of the game, catching a fly ball and firing home to complete an inning‑ending double play after a runner attempted to tag from third. One inning later, right fielder Alyssa Pavlovich tracked down a deep drive for a difficult running catch, limiting Triton to a single run after a leadoff triple.

Those stops kept the Stormers close long enough for the offense to break through.

In the bottom of the fourth, Carani was hit by a pitch, Paulick singled and Baldon walked to load the bases. Neave then ripped a two‑run double to left, and Maiya Tearney followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3–3.

Triton regained the lead with a triple and sacrifice fly in the fifth, then added another run in the sixth after two defensive miscues extended the inning. MATC trailed 5–3 entering the bottom of the sixth.

The Stormers' response was their most explosive inning of the season.

After two quick outs, Baldon reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. She advanced to third and scored on an error to make it 5–4. Tearney singled to keep the inning alive, and pinch hitter Sommer Beckman drew a walk to put two runners aboard for Lund.

Lund worked the count full, fouled off pitches and then delivered the swing that changed the game. On a 3–2 pitch, she drove a ball down the right‑field line for a three‑run triple, flipping a one‑run deficit into a 7–5 lead and igniting the Stormers' dugout.

"If I'm being completely honest, I was shaking," Lund said of her mindset during the at‑bat. "I was a little nervous, but I knew if I trusted my hands and my ability, I would be able to come up clutch."

Chloe Lago closed the seventh, recording two flyouts before allowing a single and inducing a grounder to seal the win and earn the save.

"Lago is an amazing player," Lund said. "She's always prepared, always engaged and ready to compete."

For Lund, the comeback meant more than just a win.

"It feels awesome to get our first home win of the season," she said. "Everybody played a really important role in this game and it was really nice to see everyone engaged throughout the entire game."

Hansard earned her first victory of the season, working 3.2 innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and one walk. Brzek started and allowed three earned runs over 2.1 innings.

Lund led the Stormers with her three‑RBI triple. Neave added two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Tearney finished with two hits, an RBI and a run.

UP NEXT
MATC (5–11) heads back on the road Saturday for a Region 4 doubleheader at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill. The first pitch is scheduled for noon, with Game 2 to follow at 2 p.m.