Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WHITEWATER, Wis. - The Warhawk softball team split a doubleheader against UW-Stout to open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon. UW-W topped the Blue Devils 2-1 in game one and fell 6-4 in the nightcap to move to 12-3 this season and 1-1 in league play. UW-Stout is 14-10 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC. 

Photo Gallery courtesy of Alex Saager

The Warhawks opened the scoring in the first game with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) led off with a single through the left side, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsey Schobert (Belmont/Belmont) and move to third on a wild pitch. Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity) put UW-W on the board with an infield single to score the run. Ramirez moved into scoring position by stealing second and came around to score in the next at bat courtesy of a Stout error. That was all Whitewater would need in the game. 

UW-W's defense held the Blue Devils to just three hits in the remaining five innings. Stout cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fifth and threatened in the top of the sixth. After a lead-off double in the sixth, a passed ball allowed a runner to move to third. A fielder's choice up the middle had the Whitewater defense navigating toward the runner on third that dove in safely while the batter advanced to second. With runners on second and third and just one out, Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) shut down the Blue Devil offense with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and the scoring threat. The Warhawk defense went three up-three down in the top of the seventh to hold on for the 2-1 win.

The Warhawks notched five hits in the game, each by difference players. Sporer threw the complete game five-hitter, striking out six while walking one to improve to 6-0 this season.

Whitewater took an early lead in game two courtesy of Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine)'s three-run jack, her second of the season, over the fence in left center with two outs. Stout came back with a run of their own in the top of the second but UW-W answered in their half of the inning. This time it was Evangelista who went yard for her first homer of 2014 to give the Warhawks a 4-1 lead after two innings.

After a scoreless third inning, Stout's offense picked up scoring a run in each of the next three innings to knot the score 4-4 heading into the seventh. The Blue Devils opened the inning with a single. A fielder's choice on a bunt combined with a Warhawk miscue left runners on the corners and a sacrifice fly in the next at bat gave UW-Stout the lead. A late inning single on a soft shot over the infield that landed near the right field line brought in another run to give Stout a 6-4 lead and the win.

Ramirez led UW-W in game two with a 2-for-4 performance in the batter's box. Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) started the game on the mound for UW-W going four innings while striking out five and walking five. Kara Tadda (Lombard, IL/Glenbard East) came in for one inning of relief and Sporer closed out the game. Sporer picks up the loss to move to 6-1. 

The Warhawks return to the diamond Monday with a doubleheader scheduled against Dubuque at 3 pm and 5 pm. 


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