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The No. 7 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team overcame an early deficit Thursday afternoon to defeat Hope (Mich.) 4-1 in its first game of the NCAA Division III Championship at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
 
UW-Whitewater advances in the winner's bracket to face 22nd-ranked Trine (Ind.), a 12-1 winner over Greenville (Ill.) on Thursday.
 
The Warhawks (37-7 overall), who have now won 14 straight games, fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning before rattling off four unanswered runs.
 
Sophomore centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) gave UW-Whitewater the lead for good with a two-out, three-run homer to center in the bottom of the third inning.
 
Sophomore designated player Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) added an insurance run in the sixth with a two-out, RBI single to center.
 
Freshman Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) settled in after the Flying Dutch (25-14) got on the board in the first, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out five in the contest. The conference's Pitcher of the Year improved to 18-3 for the season with the clutch performance.
 
Junior left fielder Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) led the offense with two hits and one run scored, and sophomore shortstop Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) added one hit and one run scored.