Related Links:
2017 WIAC Softball Championship Web Page
NCAA Video Hub - Watch the Selection Show Monday at noon
The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team claimed its fifth consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship Sunday with a 5-0 triumph over No. 23 UW-La Crosse in the title game of the tournament presented by Culver's at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
With the win, the Warhawks (36-7 overall) clinch the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship and will make their 20th appearance in the national tournament. The team will learn its regional destination and opening game opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at noon on
NCAA.com.
Freshman pitcher
Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) tossed her second one-hitter of the season, allowing only a leadoff walk before retiring the next 20 batters, including five by strikeout.
The Eagles (28-14) broke up Matthias' bid for a third no-hitter of the season with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Matthias induced a groundout on the first pitch to the next batter to improve to 17-3 with her 10th shutout of the year.
The two teams were held scoreless for the first 4 1/2 innings before UW-Whitewater erupted for three runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single through the right side by sophomore centerfielder
Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and a two-run base hit to shallow center by senior right fielder
Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein).
The Warhawks added two more in the sixth on a two-run homer by junior left fielder
Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West), her eighth of the season.
Klotz registered two hits, two runs scored, one walk and two RBI, and Morelli finished with two hits and two RBI. Senior first baseman
Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) collected two hits.
The tournament title was UW-Whitewater's ninth overall and seventh under head coach
Brenda Volk. The Warhawks have now won 13 straight games entering the NCAA Tournament.
UW-Whitewater was the WIAC Championship's top seed after finishing with a perfect 14-0 record and claiming the conference regular season championship for the 11th time in program history and third time in the last four years.
The Warhawks have won 21 straight games against league opponents dating back to last season.
