Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHICAGO, Ill. - The Warhawk softball team moved to 20-5 this season after splitting a doubleheader against the University of Chicago. UW-W lost 6-5 on a walk-off solo homer in the first game but bounced back to top the Maroons 9-6 in game two. UC is 17-3 this season.

Whitewater got on the board right away with two runs in the top of the first and top of the second to take an early 4-0 lead. Three straight hits including singles from Kelly McGrail (Tinley Park, IL/V.J. Andrew) and Morgan Krisch (Plainfield, IL/Central) and an Amy Ricci (Gurnee, IL/Warren Township) two-bagger to right field brought in the first run of the game. Krisch would come around to score on a fielder's choice in the next at bat as Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) registered the RBI. Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) provided the power in the second inning with a two run blast to left field.

The Maroons answered with two runs off a Kathleen Kohm single. After a scoreless fourth, the offenses went back to work. McGrail opened the inning with a double to center field, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to increase the margin to 5-3 in favor of the Warhawks.

Kohm came up big again in the bottom of the fifth for Chicago with a two-run homer as the Maroons posted three runs in the inning to knot the game 5-5. The Warhawks loaded the bases in the top of the sixth and seventh but were unable to push a run across. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Kaitlyn Carpenter tagged a ball over the centerfield fence for the walk-off win.

Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) picked up the loss for UW-W to move to 9-3 this season. 

Chicago scored first in the second game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first off the bat of Raechel Cloud. The Warhawks got their offense going in the top of the third with a solo shot of their own. Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity) drew a one out walk and McGrail reached on an error to put two runners on. Ricci made good on her opportunity at the plate with an opposite field homer to score three. 

The Maroons pulled to within one with a run in their half of the inning but the Warhawk bats were hot. UW-W put up six runs in the top of the fourth. Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) led off the inning with her third homerun in two days. Alyssa Fernandez (Carol Stream, IL/St. Francis) followed with a single to the shortstop and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) drew the walk and a Ramirez singled followed by a throwing error allowed one run to cross the plate. McGrail's single up the middle scored one more and Krisch went yard in the next at bat to clear the bases and give Whitewater a 9-2 lead. 

Chicago added a run in the bottom of the fourth and threatened a big inning in the bottom of the sixth. A solo homer with one out was followed by a single. With two outs, the Maroons singled and then doubled to bring in two more. Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) took the mound for the Warhawks but walked the first batter. A passed ball allowed both runners to advance into scoring position but Sporer got out of the jam with a groundout to end the inning. 

Whitewater left two runners on in the top of the seventh but the defense held on for the win. 

Stephanie Waller (Oak Lawn, IL/Richards) picked up the win on the mound for the Warhawks going 5.2 innings to improve to 3-0. Sporer was credited with the save, her third of the season.

Jablonski led UW-W at the plate going 5-for-6 in the batter's box with a homerun, RBI and two intentional walks. McGrail and Krisch each notched four hits Sunday combining for six runs and four RBI.

The Warhawks will head back to Illinois for a doubleheader in Bloomington against Illinois Wesleyan Wednesday at 3 and 5 pm. 


AK