Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The UW-Whitewater softball team split a doubleheader with Chicago for the fourth consecutive season. The Warhawks dropped the first game 3-2 for their first loss of the season and came back to win the second game of the twinbill 5-4. UW-W's 16-game win streak to start the season ties the 1999 team for the longest in school history.

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Crystal Meyer; all photos are for sale)

Chicago jumped to early leads in both games. In the opener, the Maroons combined two hits and a Warhawk error to plate two runs in the top of the first inning.

UC added a run in the top of the second to take an early 3-0 lead. The Warhawk defense shut down the Chicago offense the rest of the way leaving it all up to UW-W's offense.

Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) put the Warhawks on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot over center field for her third homer of the season.

Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) led off the bottom of the sixth with a homerun to cut the lead to one, 3-2. Whitewater threatened with runners in scoring position later in the sixth and advanced a runner to third in the bottom of the seventh but the Chicago defense pulled through for the win.

Kelly McGrail (Tinley Park, IL/V.J. Andrew) and Laura Eichenold (Elmwood Park, IL/Trinity) each went 2x3 from the batter's box to lead UW-W.

Senior right hander Katie Boyle (Greendale/Thomas More) took the loss for Whitewater with a complete game on the mound. She is 8-1 this season.

The Warhawks found themselves down four after just half an inning in the nightcap. UC rattled off four runs on two hits to take the early advantage.

Whitewater came back with a run in their half of the inning. Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity) reached on a Maroon error and advanced to second on a Morgan Krisch (Plainfield, IL/Central) single up the middle. Epifanio notched a single to center to score Ramirez from second and put the Warhawks on the scoreboard.

Two more runs in the bottom of the second brought UW-W to within one, 4-3. Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) opened the inning with a single up the middle. A sacrifice hit from McGrail moved the runner into scoring position and a groundout advanced Evangelista to third. Ramirez singled to left field to score one and then it was Krisch and Epifanio with another set of back-to-back singles that combined to score Ramirez for the second run of the inning.

The next four and a half innings were scoreless with the Warhawk defense allowing just three hits in that span.

Seamon led off the Warhawks final at bat of the game with a single up the middle but was out at second on a fielder's choice in the next at bat. Joanne Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) drew a one out walk to put runners on first and second. Freshman Kayla Bastar (Weyauwega/Weyauwega-Freemont) came into run for Jablonski at first and junior Chelsey Schobert (Belmont/Belmont) came to the plate as a pinch hitter. Schobert loaded the bases with a single to center. McGrail's single up the middle brought in Eichenold and Bastar was safe on a play at the plate to win the game, 5-4.

Three Warhawks posted multiple hits in the game including Ramirez, Krisch and Epifanio, all with two. Epifanio added two RBI's and Ramirez crossed the plate twice in the game.

Sophomore righty Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) picked up her ninth win of the season allowing just five hits in the complete game on the mound.

UW-W will host UW-Platteville in the Warhawks' Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Wednesday, April 10. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.



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