CLERMONT, Fla. – The No. 21 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team claimed two more victories Wednesday at Hancock Park as it nears the completion of competition in the National Training Center Spring Games.
The Warhawks (9-1 overall) downed Benedictine (Ill.) by a 7-3 score before trouncing SUNY New Paltz (N.Y.) 11-1 in a run-rule shortened five-inning affair.
In the opener, UW-Whitewater's top four in the order combined for nine of the team's 13 hits and scored all seven of its runs. Senior first baseman
Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) enjoyed a 4-for-4 performance with two runs and one run batted in, and junior left fielder
Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) tallied three hits and scored two runs.
Sophomore centerfielder
Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI and senior right fielder
Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) collected two hits and a team-high three RBI.
Freshman
Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) went the distance on the mound to pick up her fourth win of the year, scattering six hits and five walks over seven innings while striking out five.
The Warhawks scored all seven of their runs in the first two frames, plating four in the bottom of the first on RBI hits by Ricci and Morelli and a first-and-third double steal executed by Catino and Ricci.
After the Eagles (4-5) plated three in the top of the second, UW-Whitewater got all three runs back in the bottom half thanks to RBI hits by Catino and Morelli and a run-scoring groundout by freshman third baseman
Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland).
Matthias stranded two runners on in both the fifth and seventh innings to help the Warhawks to the win.
Against New Paltz (1-6), UW-Whitewater scored twice in the first, four times in the second and five times in the fourth.
Senior pitcher
Cara Smoczynski (Aurora, Ill./Rosary) picked up the win in her season debut on the mound, allowing only three hits in three innings. Also making her first appearance of the season, freshman
Alex Cimler (Franklin, Wis./Whitnall) tossed the final two innings to complete the victory. Smoczynski and Cimler combined to strand eight of the Hawks' baserunners during the contest.
Catino and Cohrs led the offense with two hits apiece. Cohrs knocked in three runs, and Morelli plated four with a grand slam, her third home run of the season, in the top of the second inning.
Sophomore left fielder
Lauren Janczak (Carol Stream, Ill./Bartlett) and freshman designated player
Mattie Klingenmeyer (Mayville, Wis./Mayville) also each knocked in one run.
The Warhawks close their spring break trip Thursday with games against St. Thomas (Minn.) and Hendrix (Ark.) at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central Time, respectively.
