The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team, ranked fourth according to the latest D3softball The Newsletter poll and eighth by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, finished their spring trip in Clermont, Florida by splitting a pair of games. The Warhawks lost to Union College 8-0 in the first game of the day, then defeated Buffalo State 6-4 to win up the trip with a 10-2 won-loss record.
Union box score
Buffalo State box score
UW-W did not give up an earned run to Union College Thursday morning, but still lost 8-0.
Union scored three times in the bottom of the third, with Megan Kaknis doubling in two runs. The rest of the scoring, five runs, came in the sixth, with Michelle Rogers bringing in two with a double and Nina Cervini singling in two more to end the game by the run differential rule with two outs.
Union pitcher Ginni Sack relied on her defense. Sack did not strike out a UW-W batter, did not walk anyone, did not hit a Warhawk hitter and didn't have a wild pitch. Union improved to 6-1 with the win.
In the win over Buffalo State Whitewater scored in the second on a double by Lauren Cruz (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West) that drove in Ashley Smith (Elgin, IL/St. Edward Catholic). However, Buffalo State came back in the third inning with three runs of their own off of three hits and an error. The Warhawks stole the momentum back in the fourth starting with a single up the middle from Suzanne Gersich (Wadsworth, IL/Warren). Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) doubled moving Gersich to third. Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo) walked and Liz Yucuis (S. Elgin, IL/St. Charles East) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Gersich and loading the bases for sophomore Kate McDonnell (Aurora, IL/West Aurora), who tripled to left-center bringing in three runs and giving the lead back to UW-W 5-3. The Warhawks added another run in the fifth, with Cruz after singling and moving to third on LeBeau's second double of the day, a throwing error brought her across the plate to put the game out of reach.
Cruz and LeBeau both went 2x3 at the plate, each scoring a run and tallying an RBI. Rankins went one for two with a walk and a run. Yucuis and McDonnell both added to the offense with triples.
Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) got the win for Whitewater going the distance while striking out twelve and walking just one. Stang is 5-1 with a 1.48 earned run average. Stang has struck out 48 batters in 33 innings, with only five walks allowed.
The Warhawks will come back from Florida with four regulars hitting .400 or better. Gersich is batting .484, Gahl .475, Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) .444, and Rankins at .400. Gersich leads the team with twelve runs batted in, with LeBeau right behind with eleven, and the Warhawks have accumulated nineteen doubles in twelve games.
The Warhawks will be back in action with a doubleheader against the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa Tuesday, March 31. The Warhawks' first home twinbill will be Thursday, April 2 at 3:00 with Carroll University. That day will also be the re-dedication of the renovated van Steenderen softball facility.
For additional information: UW-W head coach Brenda Volk
