The UW-Whitewater softball team matched up against number one ranked DePauw University at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III regional hosted by Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and lost to the Tigers 6-5 in eight innings. The loss does not end the season for the Warhawks as it is their first loss in the double-elimination regional. The Warhawks will play again on Sunday, May 11 at noon. UW-Whitewater post-season website
Box Score
These two teams met back in March when both teams were on their spring trip in Fort Myers, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Warhawks in both games, 2-0 and 6-3. During the regular season DePauw strung together thirty-seven consecutive wins before losing to Washington University (Mo.) 1-0.
The Warhawks went ahead early when they scored two on a Suzanne Gersich (Wadsworth, IL/Warren) home run in the top of the first. Going into the game DePauw was 5-1 when their opponent scored in the first inning.
DePauw cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first when Chelsy Patterson (jr, rf) scored on a sacrifice fly by Rachel Gill (jr, c). DePauw then tied the game in the bottom of the third when Patterson scored on another sacrifice hit by Gill.
The top of the sixth started with a UW-W single by Amy Gahl (Beloit/Parkview) followed by an Amy Smith bunt to put runners on first and second. Gersich again homered to give the Warhawks a three-run lead.
Coming into the game, DePauw pitcher Megan Soultz (so, rhp) had a record of 35-2 and a miniscule ERA of 0.73. Soultz had only surrendered five home runs all season until Gersich went yard twice in the game.
DePauw answered the three-run inning by UW-W with a three-run inning of their own in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second, Kelly Schwerzler (so, 3b) singled to drive in a run. Later in the inning a two-RBI single by Emma Minx (fr, 2b) tied the game at five.
The Warhawks were unable to score in the top half of the seventh to take the lead but DePauw could not finish the game in the bottom half and the game was forced into extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth DePauw's Lauren Rees (jr, dp) knocked in Carolyn Bartlett (fr, cf) to win the game for the Tigers. DePauw advances to the regional championship game that will take place on Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 pm.
UW-Whitewater (32-9) continues play in the double-elimination regional tournament on Sunday, May 11 at noon when they play the winner of Coe College and Wartburg College. The winner of that game advances to play DePauw at 2:00 pm.
For additional information:
Brenda Volk, UW-W head coach, 262-472-1155
UW-W softball website
NCAA regional host website
