The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team opened their home schedule by splitting a doubleheader against sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan. The Warhawks, ranked 14th by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, dropped the first game of the twinbill 10-5 before securing a 5-3 win in game two. The second game was called due to darkness in the bottom of the fifth inning but still constitutes a complete game.

The Warhawks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Senior designated player Deven DuCharme (Hudson/Hudson) took an inside pitch on a line to left field for a single. A failed pickoff allowed DuCharme to advance to second. Senior Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) made the most of her at bat working the pitcher into a full count. On the seventh pitch, Jablonski went yard on an off-speed pitch sending the ball deep over the left center field fence for an early 2-0 lead.
 
Back-to-back four run innings put the Warhawks in an 8-2 hole heading into the bottom of the third.
 
With one out, freshman Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) put a ball over the left fielder's head that hugged the left field line for a double. DuCharme followed with a double of her own to left field. Jablonski went the opposite direction as her first at bat with anther four-bagger, this time over the right field wall, to cut the lead to 8-5.
 
The Titans added a single run in the top of the fifth and another on a solo shot to center in the top of the seventh for the final score 10-5.
 
Senior righty Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) registered the loss to move to 5-2 this season.  Titan pitcher Mackenzie Marquis came in for 4.2 innings of relief and the win to improve to 4-0.
 
Jablonski was a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with two homeruns, two runs scored and four runs batted in. DuCharme went 2-for-4 in the batter's box scoring two runs and notching an RBI.
 
Game Two Recap
IWU got on the board first with a run in the top of the first.
 
The Warhawks struck back in their half of the inning. Jablonski and senior Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) drew back-to-back walks with two outs to put two runners on for Amy Ricci (Gurnee, IL/Warren Township). The sophomore kept her hands high on a high-inside pitch and ripped it down the left field line for an RBI single. Sporer made it to third to put runners on the corners.
 
After a few conferences between the umpires, Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs)'s at bat was ruled a hit-by-pitch to load the bases.  Senior Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) took advantage with a long fly ball that sailed over the left center field wall for a grand slam giving UW-Whitewater a 5-1 lead. Evangelista's round-tripper with the bases loaded is the second grand slam for the Warhawks in five games this season.  Senior designated player Caitlin Snyder (Burlington/Catholic Central) with a rocket up the middle and out of the reach of the second baseman but the Titans got out of the inning.
 
A few singles and some small ball from IWU plated two in the top of the second to cut the lead to 5-3.
 
That would end the scoring but not without each team threatening in the final three innings. The Titans had a runner on second but that's as far as the Warhawks would allow.
 
After a three-up, three-down inning at the plate for UW-Whitewater, the defense got out of a jam with runners on first and second and just one out. A fielder's choice back up the middle was fielded by Sporer on the mound who went to third with the throw to get the lead runner. Sophomore Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard South) held the base for the out and the umpire signaled interference on the runner and issued another out to end the inning.
 
DuCharme and Jablonski played follow the leader with consecutive two-out singles but the Titans got out of the inning to keep the score at 5-3 in favor of the Warhawks.
 
Illinois Wesleyan drew a walk to open the top of the fifth. A fielder's choice to Jablonski at shortstop went to Hansen for the out at second. The next batter was called out after not being re-entered into the lineup from a previous substitution. Taylor ended the inning fielding a ground ball and beating the Titan to first with the throw.
 
Sporer led off the bottom of the inning with walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. The umpires conferred and decided to call the game due to darkness. The game is considered a complete game with UW-Whitewater improving to 11-3 with the win.
 
Illinois Wesleyan is now 17-3 this season.
 
UW-Whitewater registered six hits in the game, each by a different Warhawk. Evangelista led UW-Whitewater offensively with the grandslam.
 
Sporer picked up the win on the mound for the Warhawks going 5.0 innings allowing six hits.
 
UW-Whitewater handed Illinois Wesleyan's Chloe Montgomery her first loss of the season, 11-1.
 
The Warhawks will head to Menomonie for a double header against UW-Stout at 3 and 5 p.m. Thursday. UW-Whitewater will make a pit stop in River Falls for a doubleheader against the Falcons Friday beginning at 2 p.m. before returning to Whitewater.