Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The thirteenth ranked UW-Whitewater softball team split with UW-Eau Claire falling in game one 2-0 and winning the nightcap 4-2 on the team's annual senior and alumni day. The Warhawks played in front of the biggest crowd this season as fans packed the stands to support Autumn Markos and her family.

photo gallery (courtesy of Jenny DuPuis, available for purchase)

The Blugolds scored the only runs of the game in the top of the fifth in the first game. A Warhawk error combined with a sacrifice bunt and two singles brought in the two UW-EC runs in the inning.

UW-W's offense put the ball in play but the Blugold defense refused to allow UW-W any momentum at the plate.

Amanda Mertes (Des Plaines, IL/Elk Grove) led the Warhawks at the plate with two of the team's three hits.

Senior righthander Katie Boyle (Greendale/Thomas More) took the complete game loss for Whitewater to move to 13-2 this season. She did not allow an earned run on five hits while striking out four and walking one. Emma Wishau posted the win for the Blugolds throwing a complete game three-hitter.

The Warhawks turned things around in the second game rattling off 10 hits in the contest.

UW-EC struck first in the top of the second and added another run in the top of the third but the Whitewater defense allowed just four baserunners the rest of the way.

Laura Eichenold (Elmwood Park, IL/Trinity) got things going for UW-W in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out single to right field. A Kelly McGrail (Tinley Park, IL/V.J. Andrew) line drive single to the pitcher combined with a throwing error put runners on the corners. Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity) put Whitewater on the board with an RBI single up the middle to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Blugolds.

The Warhawk batters stayed hot at the plate in their next at bat. Morgan Krisch (Plainfield, IL/Central) led off the inning with an infield single. Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South)'s sacrifice bunt put pressure on the Blugold defense that had the shift on allowing Epifanio to reach safely on a throwing error and Krisch advance to third. Sarah Fisher (Greenfield/Greenfield) relieved Epifanio on the base path. Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) singled to left center to score one run and leave runners on first and second. Joanne Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) tagged a one-out single to left field to load the bases. Megan Smith (Elgin, IL/St. Edward Catholic) came up clutch for the Warhawks bringing in the winning runs with a pinch hit single up the middle to give the Warhawks the definitive 4-2 lead.

Ramirez was the lone batter to register multiple hits in the game with two but eight more UW-W hitters posted hits including Smith's game-winner.

Sophomore righty Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) improved to 13-2 this season with a complete game on the mound for UW-W. She allowed five hits in seven innings while striking out three and walking three. Wishau received the loss for UW-EC to move to 5-2.

UW-Whitewater will travel to UW-River Falls for a doubleheader Monday, then wrap up the regular season Tuesday with two games at Elmhurst College. 




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