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The fourth-seeded University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team (26-12) topped fifth-seeded UW-Stout, 3-2, and top-seeded UW-Eau Claire, 5-1, Friday at Gelein Field in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to advance to day two of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship.

The Warhawks will face third-seeded UW-La Crosse at 10 am tomorrow. The Eagles swept the Warhawks five days ago in La Crosse 7-5 and 1-0.

The WIAC Championship uses a double-elimination format and neither the Warhawks nor Eagles have lost a game. The winner will advance directly to the championship game to be played on Sunday, while the loser will play again on Saturday at 2 pm.

Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) doubled in the Warhawks first run of the tournament in the bottom of the second inning against Stout.

The Blue Devils, 17-20, took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a 2-run homer to left center field.

The Warhawks tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) scored her second run of the game, this one on a double by Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling).

UW-W regained the lead in the next inning when Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) singled in Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) for a 3-2 Warhawk advantage.

Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and the Warhawk defense did the rest. Camardo earned the win, her 15th of the season, after pitching all seven innings and striking out twelve.

Game two was scoreless through three innings. The Warhawks, aided by two Blugold errors, scored three in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. 

UW-EC, 24-12-1, snuck on the scoreboard in the sixth when Camardo, who came into the game as a relief pitcher, hit a batter with the bases loaded. The Warhawks escaped the inning with a 3-1 lead.

The Warhawks added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, scoring on a Catino single and a Mikosz double to take a 5-1 lead.

Camardo struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to end the game and earn her second save of the season.

Stephanie Waller (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) scattered five hits across five and a third innings, and struck out four to earn the win and avenge a doubleheader sweep by the Blugolds earlier in the season.

Mikosz led the Warhawks by going 5-for-7 on the day with one run scored and two RBIs.