The Warhawk softball team got the 2010 season underway, splitting a pair of games in Clermont, Florida Friday.  Whitewater opened with a 5-2 win over Ripon College, with junior lefthander Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) breaking the school record with fifteen strikeouts, then fell to defending NCAA III champion Messiah College 1-0.

Ripon box score
Messiah box score

Ripon Notes
The Warhawks and Red Hawks put up goose egss for five innings.  Three times Whitewater had someone in scoring position but couldn't push the run across, and Ripon failed twice in the same situation. 

Ripon broke the deadlock with two runs in the top of the sixth, putting a runner on first with a Whitewater error which was followed by a walk and a single to load the bases.  A two out single brought in both runs.

UW-W responded with all five of its runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Emily Epifiano led off with a single.  That was followed by an Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) single, a Ripon error, and a RBI single off the bat of Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo).  With the bases loaded Jordyn Gaza (Mundelein, IL/Carmel Catholic) hit UW-W's first homer of the season, knocking in the winning run. 

Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) gave up three hits, and no earned runs for UW-W.  She walked five but struck out fifteen, breaking the school record for a single game.  The previous mark of thirteen was set by Stang versus Louisiana College May 19, 2008 in the NCAA III championship tournament, and by Dana Jakoubek May 3, 2003 versus UW-Platteville. 

LeBeau was the only Warhawk with more than one hit, going 2x3.  Ripon limited UW-W to six hits.

Messiah Notes
Jessica Rhoads one hit the Warhawks in game two, striking out five of the last six Warhawk batters in the game.

The only tally of the contest came in the bottom of the fourth, with a walk, a sacrifice bunt, the runner advancing to third on a ground out, and a RIB single by Lauren Seneca. 

Whitewater advanced a runner to second just once, with two out in the third inning. 

Katie Boyle (Greendale/Thomas More) was on the mound for the Warhawks, scattering five hits while walking three and striking out three. 

For additional information:  Brenda Volk, UW-W coach