Box Score The Warhawk softball team has advanced to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game with a 4-1 win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday ending EC's 16-game win streak and 12-game home win streak after inclement weather delayed the start time two and a half hours. UW-W, now 32-9 this season, rebounded from two one-run losses against the Blugolds in Eau Claire just six days ago. Whitewater will face the winner of UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls Sunday at 1:00. An "if necessary" game will take place immediately following the first championship game. Complete tournament schedule, results and links to live stats, live video and audio are available on the WIAC tournament website.

UW-W's offense jumped out of the gate scoring four runs, all the Warhawks needed for the win in the game. Amanda Mertes (Des Plaines, IL/Elk Grove) led things off for the Warhawks in the top of the first reaching on a dropped third strike. Mertes advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity). Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) singled to center putting runners on the corners for the Warhawks. All runners were safe on a fielder's choice off the bat of Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) with Mertes coming in to score. Laura Eichenold (Elmwood Park, IL/Trinity) followed with a single to left field but Evangelista was thrown out at home thwarting UW-W's second scoring opportunity but a Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) single loaded the bases for Whitewater. Morgan Krisch (Plainfield, IL/Central) came up big with a double to left center scoring three runs, essentially the game winning runs, giving the Warhawks the 4-0 advantage after just one half inning.

The scoreboard would show zeros for Whitewater the rest of the way but Whitewater's defense gave freshman righty Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) all the support she needed.

Eau Claire cut the lead to three with a run in the bottom of the fourth after two consecutive singles to lead the inning. A fielder's choice and an error allowed the sole Blugold run to cross the plate.

Houda went the distance on the mound pitching a stellar seven innings allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking none. She is now 11-3 this season.

Kelly McGrail (Tinley Park, IL/V.J. Andrew), Seamon and Eichenold had two hits apiece combining for six of Whitewater's ten hits in the game.

Ashley Meinen picked up the loss for Eau Claire allowing four runs on ten hits while striking out six and issuing three free passes.

The winner of the WIAC tournament will receive the WIAC's automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III tournament.

For additional information please contact head coach Brenda Volk.