The UW-Whitewater softball team clinched a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title for the tenth time in program history, and second consecutive season, with a sweep of UW-Platteville. The Warhawks topped the Pioneers 9-0 in six innings in the opener and followed with a 9-0, five-inning victory in game two.

The Warhawk senior right-handed duo on the mound pitched two gems scattering five hits across two games Friday afternoon. Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout striking out ten to improve to 14-3 this season and Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) went five innings allowing three hits while striking out five in the nightcap. 
 
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Warhawk offense got things going. Freshman Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) notched a one-out single up the middle. Senior Deven DuCharme (Hudson/Hudson) sparked the offense with a rope to center field that the crowd knew was out of the park once she made contact for the two-run blast.
 
Senior Caitlin Snyder (Burlington/Catholic Central) extended the lead with a round-tripper of her own, this one to left center on a line to make it 3-0.
 
The Warhawks added another run to their tally in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Amy Ricci (Gurnee, IL/Warren Township) singled up the middle to open the inning and was replaced by junior Courtney Smith (St. Charles, IL/North) who stole second in the next at bat. Senior Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) traded places with Smith on a RBI double to right center.
 
A little follow-the-leader in the bottom of the sixth added to UW-Whitewater's total. Sophomore Haley Morelli (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein) opened the inning with a long fly ball to fence in center for a double. Sophomore Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) took over for Morelli on second. Klotz traded places with Kaemerer for the first score of the inning. DuCharme blasted a sky ball in the infield that was mishandled by the Pioneers to put two runners on. Ricci ended the game early on a walk-off, three-run rocket to right field to make it 9-0.
 
Klotz, DuCharme, Ricci and Sporer each registered two hits in the game. Sporer recorded two doubles and two runs batted in. Ricci had three RBI and DuCharme added two RBI and two runs scored. 

GAME TWO RECAP
The Warhawks' continued their offensive momentum into the second game. DuCharme reached on a fielder's choice with one out. On a 3-1 count, Ricci tagged her second homer of the day, a laser to right field, for the early 2-0 lead.
 
Klotz led off the bottom of the third with a double on a line to right. DuCharme put the pressure on the defense with a groundball to short. Her speed forced the shortstop to go to second but Klotz dove back into the bag safely. A sacrifice hit by senior Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) moved both runners into scoring position. Ricci got ahold of one to center field for a two-RBI single extending the gap to 4-0.
 
Senior Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) notched her third homerun in four contests with a long fly ball that sailed over the fence in left field to give the Warhawks a 5-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Snyder followed with a flare single over the first baseman's head, sophomore Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard South) and Klotz made it three straight singles for the Warhawks to load the bases.
 
DuCharme's grounder to the pitcher was mishandled and all Warhawks were safe on the bases. Jablonski ripped a single through the left side of the infield and into left for the RBI. Ricci drew a bases loaded walk to plate UW-Whitewater's fourth run of the inning. Morelli was walked with two outs to bring in one more for the Warhawks and push the lead to 9-0 after four complete innings.
 
Sporer got the first Pioneer in the top of the fifth on a groundout to third. The righty played a part in the second out with a double assist, a kick-save on a groundball up the middle, to Jablonski at short and over to first in time for the out. After two base hits, Sporer grabbed a liner for the final out of the game to seal the 9-0, five-inning win.
 
Klotz went 3-for-3 in the game and Ricci added a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate for the Warhawks.
 
UW-Whitewater will dedicate the new softball press box in the name of Marty van Steenderen Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
The Warhawks wrap up the regular season at Lake Forest on April 28 with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.