OTTAWA, Ill. — One day after being swept by No. 4 Rock Valley and seeing their losing streak reach nine games, Milwaukee Area Technical College softball delivered a decisive response at the Conference Clash, rolling to a 4–0 weekend and reclaiming momentum with wins over Moraine Valley, Oakton, Elgin and McHenry County. The perfect showing pushed the Stormers to 12–21 overall and improved their neutral‑site record to 8–6, marking their most productive two‑day stretch of the season.

MATC opened the event with an 11–10 shootout win over Moraine Valley before following it with a 15–9 victory against Oakton to close Saturday unbeaten. The Stormers carried that surge into Sunday, powering past Elgin 14–9 and capping the weekend with a 12–5 run‑rule win over McHenry County in five innings. Across all four games, MATC's offense rediscovered its rhythm, its pitching staff delivered timely stretches, and the group played with the urgency of a team determined to reset its season after Friday's setbacks.

"I am thrilled how we performed at the Conference Clash," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We are starting to turn the corner and hit our stride. I am confident that our team will be successful moving forward as we finish region play and prepare for postseason play."

Game 1: MATC 11, Moraine Valley 10
MATC opened the Conference Clash with its most dramatic win of the weekend, outlasting Moraine Valley 11–10 to snap a nine‑game losing streak. The Stormers built an 11–7 lead through six innings before holding off a late Cyclones push in the seventh, stranding the tying and go‑ahead runs on base to secure the one‑run victory.

Amira Baldon jump‑started the offense with a two‑run homer in the third, giving MATC a 2–0 lead before Moraine Valley answered with three runs in the fourth. The Stormers responded immediately, reclaiming a 5–3 advantage on Mia Carani's three‑run shot to center. After the Cyclones trimmed the margin to 5–4 in the fifth, MATC erupted for a five‑run bottom half, highlighted by a pinch‑hit RBI single from Somer Beckman and a Carani grand slam that stretched the lead to 10–4.

Moraine Valley continued to battle, scoring three in the sixth and adding a three‑run homer in the seventh, but MATC's insurance run on Rylyn Paulick's sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth proved decisive as the Stormers closed out the win with two runners aboard.

Game 2: MATC 15, Oakton 9
MATC delivered its most explosive offensive performance of the season in Game 2, piling up 23 hits and scoring in five different innings to outlast Oakton 15–9 and complete a perfect Saturday. Eight of the nine Stormers in the lineup recorded multiple hits, led by Somer Beckman, who went 4‑for‑5 with three RBIs and a run scored.

The Stormers set the tone immediately with a five‑run first inning, stringing together six straight hits to open the game. Alyssa Pavlovich and Mia Carani singled to set the table, followed by RBI knocks from Amira Baldon and Beckman, a two‑run triple from Hallie Knurowski, and an RBI single from Lily Dermyer to make it 5–0.

Oakton chipped away with three runs in the second and another in the third to cut the lead to 5–4, but MATC answered with a four‑run bottom half highlighted by a passed ball, a Lily Dorado RBI single, and a two‑run homer from Caia Lund to push the margin to 9–4. Oakton briefly surged ahead with a five‑run fifth to take a 9–8 lead, but the Stormers immediately punched back with RBI singles from Baldon and Beckman to reclaim a 10–9 advantage.

MATC then put the game away with a five‑run sixth inning built on relentless contact. Dermyer and Dorado opened the frame with back‑to‑back singles before Lund drove in a run with an RBI single. Zoey Murph followed with an RBI single, Pavlovich added an RBI groundout, and Carani lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 14–9. Baldon kept the inning alive with a triple, and Beckman capped the surge with her fourth hit of the game, an RBI single to left. Knurowski added another single before a lineout finally ended the inning.

In the circle, Maiya Tearney earned the win in relief, working two innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout. Nevaeh Folk closed the door with two scoreless frames, giving up no hits and one walk to secure the victory.

Game 3: MATC 14, Elgin 9
MATC survived a defensive struggle in Sunday's opener, overcoming five errors of its own and capitalizing on four Elgin miscues to rally late for a 14–9 win and move to 3–0 on the weekend. The Stormers outhit the Spartans 10–7, but it was a two‑out surge in the seventh that ultimately delivered the difference.

MATC jumped out to a commanding 6–1 lead in the first inning, producing six runs on just four hits while benefiting from three walks, a hit‑by‑pitch and an Elgin error. Pinch hitter Hayley Beckman delivered the biggest swing of the frame with a two‑run triple. Both teams traded two runs in the second, and Elgin clawed back with a five‑run fourth, using four hits, two walks and a defensive error to tie the game at 8–8.

Elgin briefly took a 9–8 lead in the fifth on a fielder's‑choice grounder where the runner beat the throw home, but MATC answered with its biggest moment of the day in the seventh. After the first two hitters were retired, Alyssa Pavlovich launched her first home run of the season, a two‑run shot that flipped the score to 10–9. Moments later, Caia Lund delivered the knockout blow — a grand slam that stretched the lead to 14–9 and completed a five‑run, two‑out rally.

In the circle, Nevaeh Folk battled through 3.2 innings in the start, allowing seven unearned runs on four hits and three walks. Jordan Hanserd took over in relief and earned the win, working 3.1 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts, including a three‑up, three‑down seventh to close out the victory.

Game 4: MATC 12, McHenry County 5 (5 inn.)
MATC closed the weekend with its most comfortable win of the Conference Clash, controlling the game from the start and using a six‑run fifth inning to pull away for a 12–5 run‑rule victory over McHenry County. The Stormers scored three runs in each of the first two innings and never trailed, finishing the event with a perfect 4–0 record.

MATC opened the game with three straight RBI singles from Jayden Moss, Somer Beckman and Hallie Knurowski to take a 3–0 lead. McHenry answered with two runs in the bottom half, but the Stormers responded immediately in the second. Lund singled to start the inning, Pavlovich followed with another single, and Lund scored on a passed ball before Moss ripped an RBI double. Dorado added an RBI single to push the lead to 6–2. McHenry chipped away with a run on a passed ball in the third and an RBI double in the fourth to make it 6–4.

MATC finally put the game out of reach in the fifth, unleashing a six‑run surge that never allowed McHenry to settle. Carani jump‑started the inning by driving the first pitch she saw over the fence for a solo shot, and the Stormers never looked back. A walk to Kenzie Herther and a ground‑ball misplay that allowed Lund to reach  (and Herther to score) pushed the margin to 8–4. Pavlovich added a sacrifice fly to bring home Lund, and the inning kept rolling as Moss and Paulick punched back‑to‑back singles. Moments later, Emma Roeper doubled up the middle, driving in two more runs. Dorado followed with a sharp RBI single, and Carani tacked on another hit before the inning finally closed with MATC firmly in command at 12–4.

In the circle, Ellie Brzek earned the win with a strong outing, working four innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Brooke Peters recorded the save, tossing a scoreless fifth inning with two hits allowed and one strikeout.

UP NEXT
MATC (12–21) returns to action Tuesday with a road doubleheader at Bryant & Stratton College in West Allis. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at 5 p.m.