The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team collected two 4-3 walk-off victories over No. 9 UW-Eau Claire Saturday at van Steenderen Complex in Whitewater. The Warhawks grab a hold of first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 4-0 record and improve to 17-5 overall. The Blugolds fall to 17-5 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.
 
The Warhawks, unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position in the first and third innings, fell behind 3-0 after four and a half innings of play in game one.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) ripped an infield single to start a rally. Pinch runner Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) advanced to second on a single down the left field line by Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) to keep the rally going. Freshman third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) followed with her second homerun of the season to tie the game.
 
With a runner on third and one out in the top of the sixth, Warhawk second baseman Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) made a diving catch on a blooper, which was sure to plate the runner, to preserve the tie. Relief pitcher Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) struck out the final batter to escape the inning unscathed.
 
UW-W was unable to score in the bottom of the sixth, but held the Blugolds scoreless in the top of the seventh.
 
After a ground out and a line out to start the bottom of the seventh, UW-W mounted another rally. Ricci walked and Cohrs followed with a single through the left side. Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) came in to pinch run for Ricci and came around to score the game-winning run on the ensuing double to right center by Biesada.
 
Biesada not only collected the game-winning hit, she earned the victory as well, giving up just one hit in two innings to improve to 2-0 this season.
 
The Blugolds sped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of inning one in game two.
 
UW-W threatened in the bottom of the fourth and fifth moving a runner to third in each inning, but were unable to cut into the Blugolds' lead.
 
UW-Eau Claire extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth scoring on a wild pitch.
 
The Warhawks went to work in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs, all with two outs. Ricci led off the inning with a single down the left field line. A pop-up and a fly out by the next two batters brought the game one hero, Biesiada, to the plate. Biesiada singled to right and pinch runner Sam Lattner (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) advanced to second. Nicole Neitzel (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) and Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) followed with back-to-back singles to tie the game at three.
 
After three and a half scoreless innings, Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) put an end to it all crushing a homer to left center field for the win. Morelli finished the day 4-for-8 with one RBI.
 
Biesiada, the game one winner, also earned the win in game two, throwing four and two-thirds scoreless innings to move to 3-0.
 
The Warhawks will host Coe College on Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at van Steenderen Complex. Following Sunday's doubleheader, the Warhawks will recognize seniors Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West), Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein), Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and Cara Smoczynski (Aurora, Ill./Rosary).