The UW-Whitewater softball team, ranked seventh and ninth in two National Division III polls, swept UW-Superior 3-2 and 6-0 in a doubleheader played at van Steenderen Field in Whitewater on Saturday as they remain unbeaten in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 12-0 record. The Warhawks are now 27-3 this season.
game one box score
game two box score
Photo gallery (photos by Joy Kowald)
Superior got on the board right away in game one with a run in the first inning. UW-W fired back in the bottom of the first with a run of their own. After a leadoff single from Amy Gahl (Beloit/Parkview), two Superior errors and a wild pitch allowed her to score on a ground ball to first base.
Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo) broke the two and a half scoreless inning streak with her first homerun of the year giving Whitewater the lead 2-1.
The Yellowjackets tied the game in the top of the fifth with Melissa Kunzelman singling to bring in Becky Crane.
With the game coming right down to the wire, the Warhawks prevailed in the bottom of the seventh. Gahl doubled to start the inning and moved to third on an Ashley Smith (Elgin, IL/St. Edward Catholic) single. With runners at the corners Smith was able to safely steal second base. UW-Superior intentionally walked Suzanne Gersich (Wadsworth, IL/Warren) to load the bases with no outs. Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) singled driving in Gahl to win the game 3-2.
Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) picked up her thirteenth win of the season while striking out nine Superior hitters and walking just two. Gahl led the Warhawks at the plate going 3x4. Smith and Rankins added multiple hit performances going 2x3 apiece.
After three scoreless innings to begin game two, Whitewater scored two runs in the fourth with Smith and Lauren Cruz (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West) crossing the plate with the help of two Superior errors and singles from Gersich and LeBeau.
Nicole Bothun (Fort Atkinson/Fort Atkinson) and Gahl started off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles. Smith's SAC bunt allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Gersich flew out to centerfield scoring Bothun. An error by the first baseman brought Gahl in upping the score to 4-0 in favor of the 'Hawks.
Whitewater wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs. To begin the inning Kate McDonnell (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) and Bothun singled. McDonnell was able to score on a fielder's choice and Gahl scored on an RBI single from Cruz.
Stacy Bahr (Racine/Park) added another win to her record with a dominant pitching performance. Bahr went the distance allowing only three hits while striking out seven and walking just one as she ups her mark to 7-1 on the season.
Four Warhawks had multiple hits at the plate including two hits from Gahl, Gersich, LeBeau and Bothun each.
UW-W is scheduled for another doubleheader tomorrow, April 19 against UW-Eau Claire in a national championship rematch beginning at noon.
For additional information, UW-W coach, Brenda Volk
