In their ninth game on their spring trip to Fort Myers, Florida the UW-Whitewater Warhawks defeated State University of New York-Fredonia 13-4. A ten run sixth inning by the Warhawks ended what was a close game between the two teams. Whitewater (7-2) trailed for the first five innings of the game before their bats warmed up.
Box Score
Errors plagued SUNY-Fredonia in the sixth as the first two Whitewater batters reached base; one on a throwing error and one on a fielding error. After a sacrifice bunt and another fielding error Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo) homered down the left field line to score three and give Whitewater the lead 6-4. Not to be outdone, Haley Krueger (Beach Park, IL/Waukegan) pinch hit for Liz Yucuis (S. Elgin, IL/St. Charles East) and recorded a home run to give the Warhawks a three run lead. After a fly out to center by Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards), Amy Gahl (Beloit/Parkview) and Ashley Smith (Elgin, IL/St. Edward Catholic) singled. Suzanne Gersich (Wadsworth, IL/Warren) knocked Gahl home with another single and Nicole Bothun (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) followed with a two run double. To keep things going Lauren Cruz (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West) homered for the Warhawks third home run of the inning, driving in Bothun. This ended the Warhawks scoring and gave them a 13-4 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
Fredonia was unable to get anything going after that. Nikole Schulty (Woodstock, IL/Woodstock) sat all three batters down that she faced in the bottom of the sixth, including one strike out. Schulty recorded the win after pitching three innings of relief for Dianna Frisbie (Juneau/Dodgeland). Schulty is 3-0 this season.
Amy Gahl (Beloit/Parkview) extended her hitting streak to nine games. The Warhawks' thirty-four at bats were the most in a game this season. The ten RBI's ties a season best, also accomplished against St. Olaf.
The Warhawks play again on Wednesday, March 26 against Middlebury at 1:00 pm.
For additional information:
Brenda Volk, UW-Whitewater head softball coach, 262-472-1155
UW-Whitewater softball website: http://www.uwwsports.com/index.asp?path=softball
