OAK CREEK, Wis. — Milwaukee Area Technical College softball ran into one of the nation's top NJCAA Division III programs Tuesday, falling 10–2 in six innings and 9–6 to No. 5 Joliet Junior College. The pair of losses snapped MATC's three‑game win streak and dropped the Stormers to 16–27 overall and 7–11 at home as they continued their demanding 10‑game final‑week stretch.

Joliet's offensive pressure proved decisive in both games. The Wolves used a five‑run third inning to break open the opener, then held off a late MATC push in Game 2 after the Stormers clawed back from an 8–1 deficit to make it a three‑run game heading into the seventh.

Game 1: No. 5 Joliet 10, Stormers 2 (6 Innings)
MATC struggled to generate consistent offense in the opener and couldn't overcome a pair of early Joliet scoring bursts, falling 10–2 in six innings. The Stormers totaled five hits and put several balls in play but were limited to two runs while the Wolves capitalized on walks and defensive miscues to build their lead.

Starter Ellie Brzek worked 2.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Chloe Lago provided steady relief behind her, tossing 3.1 innings and giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Joliet jumped ahead quickly in the top of the first, using a leadoff walk to set up a one‑out RBI single. Another single brought home two more when both runners scored on an error, giving the Wolves a 3–0 lead. MATC went down in order in the bottom half.

Brzek settled in during the second, stranding a two‑out double, and the Stormers answered in the bottom of the inning. Aniesa Neave opened the frame with a leadoff double and later scored on back‑to‑back groundouts, including an RBI groundout from Alyssa Pavlovich, cutting the deficit to 3–1.

Joliet responded with a five‑run third inning, producing only two hits but taking advantage of three walks and a hit‑by‑pitch to stretch the lead to 8–1. MATC again went down in order in the bottom half.

"We thought we had the momentum going after we cut it to 3–1, but then JJC put up a five‑spot," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said. "We had a couple of miscues and unfortunately they were able to take advantage."

The Stormers threatened in the fifth, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but a popout ended the inning. Joliet added another run in the sixth when back‑to‑back one‑out singles set up a steal of home to make it 10–1.

MATC pushed across its second run in the bottom of the sixth. Mia Carani doubled to start the inning, followed by an Amira Baldon single, and Neave delivered an RBI single to cut the margin to 10–2. The Stormers appeared poised for a bigger inning with two on and no outs, but Rylyn Paulick lined out to shortstop, and Joliet turned a double play by firing to first to double off the runner. A popout ended the game via the eight‑run rule.

"We were making a little bit of a push and then JJC's shortstop made a great play," Kuntner said. "She doubled us off on a nice line shot from Paulick and unfortunately there's nothing you can do there."

Neave paced MATC at the plate, going 2‑for‑3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Carani added a double, a single and a run, while Amira Baldon contributed a pinch‑hit single. The Stormers struck out only twice but produced a high number of popouts and groundouts that limited their scoring chances.

Game 2: No. 5 Joliet 9, Stormers 6
MATC showed late life in the nightcap but couldn't overcome an early 8–1 deficit, falling 9–6 despite scoring five runs across the fifth and sixth innings. The Stormers collected 10 hits, with six of them coming in those two late frames, but the early hole proved too steep against the nationally ranked Wolves.

"We failed to make the adjustments until the fifth inning," Kuntner said. "When we finally started taking our time at the plate and not trying to go out there and reach for pitches, we started putting together better swings."

Starter Lily Dorado worked one inning, allowing four earned runs on six hits with one strikeout. Joliet opened the game with a string of soft‑contact singles and bloopers that found grass, building a 4–0 lead before MATC recorded its third out. Nevaeh Folk followed with two innings of relief, giving up two earned runs on four hits and three walks. Brooke Peters closed the game with four innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

"Peters has a great spin on the ball, especially in warm weather like today," Kunter said. "She's very difficult to barrel up."

MATC had an early chance to answer in the bottom of the first when Carani doubled with one out, but she was left stranded at second. Joliet extended its lead to 6–0 in the second with back‑to‑back two‑out RBI singles after opening the inning with consecutive hits.

The Stormers got on the board in the bottom of the second when Lily Dermyer singled and later scored on a defensive miscue, trimming the deficit to 6–1. Joliet added two more in the fifth on an RBI single and an RBI double to push the margin to 8–1.
MATC responded with its best stretch of the game. In the fifth, Ava D'Aquisto singled to start the inning, followed by another single from Carani. Neave drove in D'Aquisto with an RBI groundout, and Paulick followed with an RBI groundout of her own to make it 8–3.

The Stormers kept the momentum in the sixth. Brzek opened the inning with a solo homer to left, cutting the deficit to 8–4. After a double from Caia Lund and a single from Emily Pujanauski, Baldon delivered a two‑RBI single to bring MATC within 8–6. Joliet answered with a two‑out RBI double in the seventh to extend the lead to 9–6.

MATC brought only one runner aboard in the bottom of the seventh, a one‑out walk to Brzek, before Joliet closed out the sweep.

D'Aquisto and Carani collectively paced the Stormers with two hits and one run scored apiece. Baldon added a single and two RBIs, while Brzek contributed a solo homer.

UP NEXT
MATC (16–27) continues its demanding 10‑game final‑week stretch Thursday with a home doubleheader against College of DuPage at the Oak Creek Campus. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at 5 p.m.