The UW-Whitewater softball team, ranked twenty-fifth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, won two big games in Clermont, FL Wednesday. Whitewater handed seventh ranked Luther College their first loss of the season with a 1-0 victory and won an extra inning battle versus DePauw University 6-4.

Luther College Box
DePauw University Box

As the old saying goes, "Defense wins games." With just seven hits between the two teams combined, defense was the story of the first game. The first six and a half innings were scoreless but Whitewater had the bats in the bottom of the seventh. Senior outfielder Lauren Cruz (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West) leadoff with a walk. Freshman Emily Muche (Van Dyne/Winnebago Lutheran) came in to pinch run for Cruz and moved to second on a sacrifice hit by fellow freshman Sarah Fisher (Greenfield/Greenfield). Junior first baseman Jordyn Gaza (Mundelein, IL/Carmel Catholic) came up big for the Warhawks launching a double to score Muche and win the game 1-0. 

Gaza had the big bat for the 'Hawks in the game going 2x3 from the plate with two doubles. Junior left-hander Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) went the distance at the mound for UW-W allowing just four hits while striking out 11 and walking two.

In the second game, Whitewater scored six runs on just seven hits to take down DePauw. UW-W took the early lead scoring one in the third and came back with three more in the fourth to lead 4-0. However, back-to-back two-run innings from DePauw tied up the contest at 4-4 in the fifth and neither team could break the stalemate through regulation. 

The international tiebreaker rule was utilized to start the eighth inning which places the last out from the previous inning at second base. The Warhawks had the first at bat and put freshman Shauna Binsfeld (Cedarburg/Grafton) on second to begin the inning. Senior shortstop Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) singled moving Binsfeld to third. Binsfeld scored on a sacrifice fly to center field from Cruz. A strikeout held the runners in place gave UW-W their second out. LeBeau, at second after tagging on the sac fly, moved to third on a DePauw error and went on to score on a Gaza single. A fly out put Whitewater back on defense.

DePauw reached on a Warhawk error which also moved the runner to third. However, a fly out to right field on the next play allowed the runner to try and tag from third but she was gunned down at the plate. A pop out to the pitcher ended the game with the Warhawks on top 6-4.

LeBeau and Gaza each went 2x4 from the plate for Whitewater. Junior outfielder Alli Driscoll (Beloit/F.J. Turner) was the only player to have a multi RBI game bringing in two runs on a double.

Junior righty Brittany LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) picked up the win after throwing three innings and not allowing a hit. She struck out one and walked one in the game.

Whitewater improves their record to 6-4 on the season.

UW-W will continue play in Clermont, FL Thursday with a double header featuring Trinity at 8:30 am Eastern and Buffalo State at 10:30 am Eastern.

For additional information: Brenda Volk