LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team fell to Lake Forest College 3-2 in eleven inning instant classic on the diamond. The longest game of the season featured nine innings of scoreless play, 22 runners left on base, a four-run tenth and a sacrifice fly that ended the game. 

The Warhawks had runners on base in nine of the eleven innings. Senior right-hander Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton), an All-Tournament Team selection, did not allow a hit until the third inning, a single base shot on a bloop hit to second base. LFC threatened in the bottom of the fifth with back-to back singles. After a popup, senior righty Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) headed to the circle for the situational pitching change and struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam. 

UW-Whitewater had runners on the corners off singles from senior Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) and freshman Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) but couldn't push a run across in the top of the sixth. Both teams continued to produce opportunities but timely hits were at a minimum in the game. 

The Warhawks stranded two Foresters on base in the bottom of the seventh to head into extra innings. 

After a quick eighth, 1-2-3 on both sides, senior Paige Evangelista (Wheaton, IL/North) wore a pitch to put the leadoff runner on base. Senior Caitlin Snyder (Burlington/Catholic Central) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and another hit by pinch sent sophomore Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, IL/Glenbard South) jogging to first. Lake Forest got out of the inning with two quick outs. 

LFC posted two singles in the bottom of the inning but two foul outs once again had the Warhawks heading back into the dugout to grab their bats. 

Jablonski led off the tenth with a walk. With one out, Sporer worked the pitcher spoiling pitch after pitch. She sent three balls over the homerun fence in foul territory during the at bat. Sporer gradually worked the ball back toward fair territory and the fourth long was the charm, she jacked a long fly ball over the fence in left field, this time inside the foul pole for the two-run four-bagger. 

Houda struck out the first Forester in the bottom of the inning. A single was followed by a pop up to put one runner on with two outs. The next batter doubled to right center to put runners on second and third. Another single to center brought in both runs and the batter advanced to second on the throw home. Taylor snagged a hard grounder and tossed to first for the third out of the inning. 

Taylor doubled in the top of the eleventh with one out but a hard liner resulted in a double play to send UW-Whitewater back out on defense. 

The Foresters loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning and a sacrifice fly to left field gave the runner at third just enough time to slid in safely at the plate for the winning run. 

Houda takes the loss on the mound to end the season 18-5. 

Taylor led UW-Whitewater at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance. Jablonski added two hits and a run scored. 

The Warhawks wrap up the 2015 season with a 37-8 record. UW-Whitewater tied for a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with UW-Eau Claire for a conference-record tenth time. The Warhawks followed with a conference-record seventh WIAC Tournament championship to earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament for their 18th national appearance in program history.