The Warhawks, ranked eleventh in a National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, shutout Carroll 7-0 in the first game of a double header Thursday afternoon and used a seventh inning surge from the plate to top the Pioneers 5-2 in the nightcap.

The double header was originally scheduled for Wednesday at Carroll but weather and field conditions caused the change of venue to Whitewater. The Warhawks remained the away team and the Pioneers were designated the home team for both games.

Photo Gallery courtesy of Tim Gumz (all photos are for sale)

Game One Recap

Box Score

After a scoreless first three innings, the UW-W offense picked up the pace from the plate. Freshman Laura Eichenold (Elmwood Park, IL/Trinity) singled through the left side to start the top of the fourth. The next batter, freshman Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) homered over the left field fence to tally her first round trip as a Warhawk putting Whitewater on the board 2-0.

The Warhawks added another run in the fifth on four hits. A single from sophomore Amanda Mertes (Des Plaines, IL/Elk Grove) started the inning but Mertes was out at second on a fielder's choice in the next at bat. Back-to-back singles moved and scored freshman Amanda Ramirez and kept runners on first and second for Whitewater. Eichenold tagged another single through the left side to load the bases with one out but UW-W was unable to bring any more runs across the plate.

Senior Jordyn Gaza (Mundelein, IL/Carmel Catholic) led off the sixth with a single up the middle and was pinch run for by sophomore Emily Muche (Van Dyne/Winnebago Lutheran). Senior Tina Galuk (Lake in the Hills, IL/Crystal Lake South) notched a one out single to put two runners on for UW-W. A passed ball put both runners in scoring position. Everybody was safe on Ramirez's fielder's choice with Muche coming in to score and Galuk moving to third. Ramirez moved stole second and sophomore Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) brought everyone in with a three run shot over center field for her first homer of the season and ending the scoring in the game. The Warhawks rolled to the 7-0 win.

Mertes, Epifanio and Eichenold each posted two hits in the game with Epifanio adding four RBI.

Senior lefty Jessica Stang (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka) picked up the complete game on the mound to improve to 7-1 on the season. Stang allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out 13 in the shutout.

Game Two

Box Score

The tables turned in the second game with Carroll jumping out to a 2-0 lead after scoring one in each of the first two innings. Whitewater answered with a run of its own in the top of the third after a couple of Pioneer errors put runners in scoring position with Ramirez coming in on a two out single from Eichenold.

The next three innings were scoreless with neither team able to capitalize with runners on base.

UW-W had its back against the wall, needing to score to keep the game alive in the top of the seventh down 2-1. With the top of the lineup at the plate to start the inning, the Warhawks used five consecutive singles to score three and leave runners on first and second with no outs. A groundout advanced the runners into scoring position but the lead runner was out on a fielder's choice on the next play. Gaza loaded the bases for the third time in the inning on a two out single through the left side. Whitewater had one more run cross the plate on a passed ball to end the top of the seventh with the Warhawks adding four to the scoreboard on six hits.

UW-W's, Stang took the Carroll batters down in order on three swinging strikeouts to record the 5-2 win.

Eichenold led Whitewater at the plate going 3x4 with three RBI. Mertes, Ramirez and Gaza had two hits apiece in the game.

Sophomore righty Katie Boyle (Greendale/Thomas More) started the game for the Warhawks going 5.2 innings giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out two. Stang finished the game to pick up her eighth win of the season allowing no runs on zero hits and striking out four.

The Warhawks improve to 12-2 in 2011. Carroll University falls to 2-9.

Whitewater is scheduled to kick-off Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a double header against UW-Superior Saturday, April 2 at noon in Whitewater.

For additional information: UW-W coach Brenda Volk