OAK CREEK, Wis. — Milwaukee Area Technical College softball split its Region 4 home doubleheader with Carl Sandburg College on Friday, falling 9–8 in the opener before storming back from a five‑run deficit to walk off 7–6 in Game 2. The Stormers let a late lead slip away in the first game but answered with one of their biggest innings of the season, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to salvage the split and improve to 19-28 overall.

MATC held a 6–4 advantage through four innings in Game 1 before Sandburg pushed across five two‑out runs in the fifth to take control. The Stormers rallied for two in the bottom half and had the tying run at the plate in the sixth but couldn't complete the comeback. The nightcap flipped the script, as MATC collected six of its 11 hits in the final inning, including four straight to open the frame, before Emma Roeper capped the surge with a walk‑off RBI double.

"We would have liked to get two wins, but it's going to be great since we've got Sophomore Day tomorrow," MATC head coach Joe Kuntner said.

Game 1: Carl Sandburg 9, Stormers 8
MATC looked firmly in control early but couldn't withstand a two‑out collapse in the fifth inning, falling 9–8 in the opener despite building a 6–4 lead through two innings. The Stormers created traffic all afternoon but couldn't cash in late, stranding key runners in the fifth and sixth before going quietly in the seventh.

MATC opened the game in ideal position, loading the bases with no outs in the first on a Rylyn Paulick single and walks to Mia Carani and Amira Baldon. Aniesa Neave forced in the first run with an RBI walk, Maiya Tearney added another bases‑loaded walk, and Jordan Hanserd dropped a bloop RBI single over shortstop for a 3–0 lead. The inning ended abruptly on a line‑drive double play with the bases still loaded, leaving MATC short of an even bigger start.

Sandburg countered immediately, using three straight singles to open the second and push across a run on a groundout. A walk reloaded the bases, and a fielder's‑choice RBI made it 3–2 before a two‑out, two‑run single flipped the lead to 4–3.

"We had a few errant throws that went to the wrong base, which they were able to capitalize on and score," Kuntner said of the second inning.

MATC answered with its own surge in the bottom half. Carani ripped a one‑out RBI double to tie it, Neave followed with a run‑scoring single to reclaim the lead, and Emily Pujanauski added a two‑out RBI double to stretch the margin to 6–4.

The game turned in the fifth. Ellie Brzek worked around a leadoff single and a second hit, but a walk loaded the bases with two outs and forced a pitching change. Brooke Peters entered and was greeted by a three‑run double into the left‑center gap, giving Sandburg a 7–6 lead. An RBI triple followed, and a defensive miscue allowed another run to score, ballooning the deficit to 9–6.

"Peters has been solid in relief appearances for us with runners on base, but today just wasn't her day," Kuntner said. "She left a couple of pitches up, and they were able to capitalize."

MATC fought back in the bottom of the fifth. Chloe Lago singled with two outs, and pinch‑hitter Emma Roeper drove her in with an RBI double. Hallie Knurowski then delivered a pinch‑hit RBI single to make it 9–8, but a flyout stranded two runners and halted the rally.

The Stormers threatened again in the sixth, drawing two walks with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning. MATC went down in order in the seventh, unable to mount one more push.

Neave led the Stormers' offense, finishing 1‑for‑3 with two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Paulick reached four times on three walks and a single and scored twice, while Carani added a double, two walks and an RBI. Pujanauski delivered a two‑out RBI double, and Hanserd, Knurowski and Pujanauski each chipped in a hit and an RBI. Tearney contributed two walks and an RBI, and Lago added a single.

Game 2: Stormers 7, Carl Sandburg 6
MATC looked finished, flat and buried under a 6–2 deficit, but the Stormers authored one of their wildest innings of the season, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to stun Sandburg 7–6 and walk off with the split. Six of MATC's 11 hits came in that final frame, a surge that turned a long, uphill afternoon into a sudden celebration at Oak Creek.

"We started having some quality at‑bats instead of always swinging at high pitches," Kuntner said of the five-run explosion. "We used multiple pinch‑hitters that seventh inning… there's always a time when you need the others, and sometimes the others are the most important part of this game because they don't always get the credit they deserve."

The rally began with pure grit: Jayden Moss diving headfirst into first base to beat out an infield single, followed by back‑to‑back knocks from pinch‑hitters Hayley Beckman and Emily Pujanauski, whose RBI single cut the deficit to 6–3. Another pinch hitter, Amira Baldon, delivered the swing that flipped the dugout's energy, ripping a two‑run double into the gap as Pujanauski slid home safely on a close play to make it 6–5.

With one out, Carani tied the game on an RBI groundout, and after a popout left MATC down to its final out, pinch‑hitter Somer Beckman kept the inning alive with a sharp single. That brought up freshman Emma Roeper, who hammered a walk‑off RBI double to score pinch‑runner Ava D'Acquisto and complete the five‑run comeback.

"I was feeling a little nervous, but I just had to stay confident and know I could come through for my team," Roeper said. "She threw it right down the middle, which was pretty nice of her, and I was able to barrel it. There was a crazy amount of emotion and happiness when everyone rushed the field."

MATC's late surge erased what had been a frustrating climb. Starter Chloe Lago took a no‑decision after allowing five earned runs on six hits over 2.2 innings, including back‑to‑back solo homers in the second and a pair of run‑scoring doubles in the third. Jordan Hanserd steadied the game in relief, earning the win with 4.1 innings of one‑run ball on five hits and no walks, striking out two and keeping the Stormers within reach long enough for the seventh‑inning eruption.

"We definitely needed Hanserd to pick us up," Kuntner said. "She pitched well and had great defense behind her."

MATC's early offense came from a solo homer by Brzek in the fourth and a two‑out RBI single from Moss that scored Lily Dorado, who had doubled earlier in the inning, trimming the deficit to 5–2 before Sandburg added another run in the fifth. Everything after that belonged to the Stormers, who turned a quiet afternoon into a walk‑off roar.

Roeper went 2‑for‑4 with the walk‑off RBI double to pace the Stormers' offense. Baldon added a two‑RBI double and scored once, while Dorado and Moss each collected two hits and crossed the plate; Moss also drove in a run. Pujanauski chipped in a single, and Brzek contributed a solo homer, a walk and a run scored. In the circle, Hanserd improved to 4–1 with the win in relief.

UP NEXT
MATC (19–28) closes its regular season Saturday with Sophomore Day at the Oak Creek Campus, hosting Elgin Community College for a Region 4 doubleheader rescheduled from March 19. The program will hold its Sophomore Day ceremony prior to Game 1, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. and Game 2 to follow at 2 p.m.