MALTA, Ill. — Milwaukee Area Technical College softball battled through another tight doubleheader on Sunday, falling 8–7 in the opener before responding with a sharp 5–1 victory in Game 2 at Kishwaukee College. The split moved the Stormers to 14–25 overall and delivered their first true road win of the season, improving them to 1–10 away from home.

Game 1 featured multiple lead changes and another late chance for MATC, but the Stormers couldn't push across the go‑ahead run in the seventh, stranding two runners after a two‑out strikeout sealed an 8–7 loss. MATC answered with a steadier, more composed performance in the nightcap, flipping a 1–0 deficit in the fifth on Mia Carani's two‑out, two‑run homer and never trailing again. The Stormers added insurance in the seventh and rode Chloe Lago's three scoreless innings of relief to close out a 5–1 win and secure their first true road victory of the season.

"It took us longer than expected," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said after his team's first road win of the season. "We hold a high bar for this team and this program, and we just didn't execute in our away games. But as a group we persevered and learned a lot about what each player can bring in game situations. In Game 2 we executed the fundamentals — strong pitching, clean defense and timely hitting, highlighted by big home runs from Mia Carani and Aniesa Neave's first college homer."

Game 1: Kishwaukee 8, Stormers 7
MATC found itself in another tight, back‑and‑forth opener but couldn't complete a late comeback, falling 8–7 despite multiple momentum swings throughout the game. The Stormers were out‑hit 11–10 and hampered by three defensive errors, yet still had a chance to pull ahead in the seventh before a two‑out strikeout stranded runners on first and second to end it.

The Stormers' offense finally broke through in the fourth after being held quiet early. With two outs, Emily Pujanauski singled, Rylyn Paulick walked, and Jordan Hanserd lined a two‑RBI single that tied the game at 2–2. Ellie Brzek followed by driving a two‑run homer to left, flipping the score and giving MATC a 4–2 lead.

Kishwaukee answered immediately, capitalizing on three walks and three singles in the bottom half to reclaim a 5–4 advantage. MATC punched back again in the fifth, using back‑to‑back singles from Mia Carani and Jayden Moss to set up Pujanauski's two‑out, two‑RBI double that put the Stormers ahead 6–5.

But the Kougars responded once more, scoring twice in the fifth on a pair of singles and an infield error that loaded the bases before a two‑RBI double made it 7–6. Kishwaukee added what became the decisive run in the sixth when a leadoff double eventually scored on a two‑out steal of home, stretching the lead to 8–6.

MATC mounted one final push in the seventh. Aniesa Neave doubled with one out, and after a popout, Pujanauski singled to put runners on the corners. Neave scored when Paulick reached on an infield error, trimming the deficit to 8–7, but a strikeout ended the rally with the tying and go‑ahead runs aboard.

Maiya Tearney started and worked four innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and five walks with one strikeout. Brooke Peters took the loss in relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk. Chloe Lago handled the sixth, allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout.

Pujanauski led MATC with three hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Brzek went 1‑for‑3 with her two‑run homer, while Hanserd finished 2‑for‑2 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.

Game 2: Stormers 5, Kishwaukee 1
MATC answered its one‑run loss in the opener with one of its most composed efforts of the season, using timely power and steady pitching to secure a 5–1 win and earn the road split. The Stormers trailed 1–0 into the fifth before flipping the game with two outs and never looking back.

The breakthrough came when Mia Carani turned on a two‑out pitch and lifted a two‑run homer to left, giving MATC a 2–1 lead. The Stormers added separation in the seventh as Aniesa Neave opened the inning with a solo home run, and MATC later produced two more runs on singles from Jordan Hanserd, Rylyn Paulick and Jayden Moss to stretch the margin to 5–1.

Freshman right‑hander Chloe Lago closed the door with one of her sharpest outings of the year, firing three scoreless innings in relief. She scattered four hits, issued no walks, and relied on soft contact and clean defense to finish off the Stormers' first true road win of the season. MATC improved to 14–25 overall and 1–10 away from home.

Carani finished 1‑for‑3 with her two‑run homer, while Neave added a solo shot as part of a 1‑for‑3 effort. Paulick went 2‑for‑3 with a stolen base and two runs scored, Moss added an RBI single, and Hanserd went 1‑for‑2 with a run. Pujanauski added a single as well.

In the circle, Ellie Brzek allowed one run on three hits over four innings, striking out five and walking five. Lago handled the final three frames, giving up four hits with no walks to earn the win.

UP NEXT
MATC (14–25) returns home Monday for a rescheduled doubleheader against Morton College, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. at the Oak Creek Campus and Game 2 to follow at approximately 5 p.m.