CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team split a pair of games in their first day of action of the 2015 season at the National Training Center Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Warhawks, ranked fifth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, fell to No. 17 North Central on a walkoff in the bottom of the seventh. UW-Whitewater bounced back with a 6-3 win over Endicott. 

The Warhawk offense did not waste any time getting into the season. Freshman Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) tagged a triple over the head of the rightfielder's head in the first at bat of the game. Fellow freshman Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) registered an RBI in her first collegiate hit, a sacrifice fly to right field. Senior Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) kept the offensive action rolling with a single to right center in the next at bat but North Central was able to get out of the inning without allowing another Warhawk runner. 

The Cardinals struck back in the bottom of the second with a three run homer over the fence in left center. 

UW-Whitewater did not trail for long. Senior Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) walked to lead off the top of the fourth. Senior Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) beat out a ground ball to the shortstop to put two runners on for the Warhawks. Sophomore Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) replaced Evangelista on the base paths at second. Junior Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in front of the plate to move both runners into scoring position. Senior Caitlin Snyder (Burlington/Catholic Central), the designated player, rocketed a ball through the right side to bring in both runs and knot the score at 3-3. 

The next two innings were ruled by the defenses as the score remained 3-3 heading into the seventh. 

With two outs, Swanson notched a single up the middle. Jablonski followed with another single down the right field line and sophomore Amy Ricci (Gurnee, IL/Warren Township) tagged a liner up the middle for the Warhawks' third single in a row and plate Swanson. 

North Central's half inning saw the leadoff batter reach first on a bunt. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position and the Cardinals' number three hitter connected for a two-run shot to end the game. 

Senior righthander Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) registered the loss with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the mound. 

Seven Warhawks recorded hits in the game with Jablonski going 2-for-4 in the batter's box. 

Endicott Recap
The first inning of the second game went three up, three down for both teams. 

The Warhawks picked up their offense in the second. Ricci walked to lead off the inning and was replaced by Courtney Smith (St. Charles, IL/North) on first. With two outs, Hansen launched a shot to right center that one-hopped the fence for a double and the RBI. 

Endicott evened the score in their half of the inning with a single run despite not registering a hit. 

In the top of the third, Swanson reached on a fielder's choice. Jablonski doubled to right center with two down to bring across another Warhawk run and give UW-Whitewater a 2-1 lead. 

Sporer and the Warhawk defense got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the inning to keep the 2-1 lead. 

UW-Whitewater added another run in the top of the fourth. Sporer legged out a double to right center with one out. Hansen walked to put two runners on. Snyder came up clutch once again with a hard shot through the right side that plated Sporer. 

The Warhawks continued to keep the pressure on the Endicott defense with baserunners each inning the rest of the way. In the top of the fifth. Jablonski walked with one down. With two outs, Evangelista singled to right field allowing Jablonski to advance all the way to third. Sporer and Hansen drew back-to-back walks for another UW-Whitewater run. 

The purple and black plated two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard South) opened the inning by reaching on a throwing error. Klotz showcased her bat control with a nifty infield single to the shortstop. Swanson moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Jablonski tagged her second double of the game, a rocket off the fence in left field, to bring in one run. A groundout after a pitching change brought the second runner in to give the Warhawks a 6-1 lead. 

Endicott plated one run in the bottom of the sixth and another in the bottom of the seventh but the Warhawk defense supported Sporer and reliever Steph Waller to seal the win. 

Jablonski led UW-Whitewater with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with two doubles and two runs batted in. Klotz added two hits in four at bats and Hansen registered two runs batted in and was walked twice in the game. 

The Warhawks continue play in the NTC Spring Games Saturday with two games. UW-Whitewater will face Plattsburgh State at 11 ET and follow with a 1 pm ET contest against Oberlin.