LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater fell to Hope College (Mich.) 10-7 in the NCAA Division III Lake Forest Regional opener Thursday afternoon. The Warhawks will face the loser of a match-up between host Lake Forest and top-seeded North Central Friday at 11 a.m. Please note: Friday's scheduled game times have changed due to impending weather concerns throughout the day. 

The Flying Dutch struck first in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back bunt singles put the first two batters on for Hope. With one out, HC's first baseman Peyton Wells homered to right field to give Hope a 3-0 lead. 

The Warhawks responded in the next half inning with a round-tripper of their own. Senior Deven DuCharme (Hudson/Hudson) drew a walk with one out. Facing a two-out situation, sophomore first baseman Amy Ricci (Gurnee, IL/Warren Township) tagged seventh four-bagger of the season to center field to cut the lead to one, 3-2. 

UW-Whitewater stranded one HC runner in the bottom of the fourth to head to the batter's box. 

Junior Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) struck out but made a head's up play as the ball skirted away from the catcher reaching on a the passed ball to put the leadoff on base for the Warhawks. Fellow junior Courtney Smith (St. Charles, IL/North) took over at first base for Hansen. Senior Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) laid down a perfect bunt to move Smith to second. The speedy pinch runner moved up a base on a wild pitch. Senior Caitlin Snyder (Burlington/Catholic Central) won a long at bat with a double down the left field line to tie the game 3-3. 

Hope College broke the tie in the bottom of the inning with four runs on four hits to take a 7-3 lead. The Flying Dutch notched three singles up the middle and found the 5-6 hole on the left side to steal momentum from the Warhawks. 

UW-Whitewater did not fold and put together a big inning of their own. DuCharme drew her second walk of the game to open the inning. Senior Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) reached on a fielder's choice as the Hope defense opted to go to second for the first out of the inning. Ricci added to her stellar day at the plate with a single to left center and advanced to second on the throw to third. Jablonski hustled around second and reached third safely in front of the throw from the outfield. A wild pitch in the next at bat plated Jablonski and allowed Ricci to move to third. Senior Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) registered an RBI single to left field for UW-Whitewater's second run of the inning to force a Hope College pitching change. 

Hansen drew a walk in the first at bat against the new hurler. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. With two outs and first base unoccupied, the Flying Dutch intentionally walked Snyer to load the bases. Sophomore Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard South) tagged a hard grounder that went off the first baseman's mitt and into foul territory to bring in another run. Freshman Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) singled to third base on a hard shot that went off the fielder and to the shortstop but Snyder dove head first under the tag as Hansen crossed home to tie the game 7-7. 

Hope College once again regained the lead in the bottom of the inning with three runs on three hits, all singles to take the 10-7 advantage. 

Jablonski hit the gap in right center for a double to lead off the top of the seventh but the Hope defense held on for the win. 

Ricci posted two of the Warhawks' six hits in the game and added two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Steph Waller takes the loss on the mound allowing one hit in relief to move to 3-1 this season. 

Hope College will advance to play the winner of the North Central and Lake Forest match-up scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.