Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) threw a five-inning no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader sweep against the University of Dubuque on Thursday. The Warhawks won 9-0 in a game that was shortened to five innings because of the eight-run differential rule. The Warhawks escaped game two by a score of 5-4 after a walk-off single by Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) drove in Emily Muche (Van Dyne/Winnebago Lutheran). UW-W improves to 20-10 overall and Dubuque drops to 7-20.
Game one box score
Game two box score
Photo gallery
Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) fired a no-hitter in game one on Thursday going five innings, walking three and striking out eight. Stang improves to 8-2 this season and has an ERA of 1.81. This was the first no-hitter for UW-W since Dianna Frisbie (Juneau/Dodgeland) did it against Oberlin College on March 26, 2006; her first collegiate game.
Stang's run support came in the bottom of the second when UW-W threw up five runs. Kate McDonnell (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) doubled in the first run and Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo) singled in the second. Sarah Fisher (Greenfield/Greenfield) singled with runners on second and third and both runners scored; the first on the hit, the second on an error by the first baseman. A two-out single by Amanda LeBeau (Worth, IL/Richards) drove in the fifth run of the inning.
Another four runs in the bottom of the third pushed the Warhawk lead to 9-0. This time UW-W used the long ball to score. A two-run homer by Jordyn Gaza (Mundelein, IL/Carmel Catholic) and another by Shauna Binsfeld (Cedarburg/Grafton) plated all four runs in the inning.
Stang struckout four of the last seven batters she faced to bring the game to a close.
Game two saw the Warhawks jump out to a 4-0 lead after the third inning. A leadoff homerun by Binsfeld accounted for run one, a two-run homer by Lauren Cruz (Des Plaines, IL/Maine West) scored the next two, and a single by Rankins scored the last run.
Dubuque fought back to tie the score in the top of the seventh scoring four runs on three hits. UW-W finished in dramatic fashion and it all started with a leadoff triple by Cruz. Muche came in to run for Cruz and then Epifanio hit the single to drive in the game winning run.
Sammy Kessler (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North) pitched one third of an inning for the 'Hawks and earned the victory in game two. She is now 3-0 this season.
Binsfeld went 4-for-4 on the day with two homeruns and three RBI, Rankins was 4-for-5 and McDonnell was 3-for-5 with two doubles.
UW-W will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 24 in La Crosse beginning at 3:00 pm.
*Due to the possibility of inclement weather, Saturdays doubleheader will be postponed to Monday, April 26 in La Crosse beginning at 3:00 pm.
For additional information, Brenda Volk
