The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team was downed, 2-1, by UW-Eau Claire in the first game before defeating the Blugolds, 6-2, in the second game of a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Eau Claire, Wis.
 
The Warhawks (20-11-1 overall, 10-2 WIAC) rallied in the fourth inning with four runs to help secure the victory over UW-Eau Claire (19-13, 6-4) in the second game.
 
Sophomore pitcher Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) tossed the entire second game to make her season record 7-4, and recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts.
 
Senior outfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) registered two hits and three runs batted in, senior left fielder Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) tallied two hits and two runs and freshman right fielder Kaiden Jackson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) collected two hits, two runs and one RBI.
 
Despite UW-Eau Claire tallying two runs in the first inning, the Warhawks tallied a run off an error by the Blugolds in the second inning to make the score 2-1.
 
The scoring continued in the fourth inning when Jackson singled and sent in junior Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West). Catino doubled and recorded three RBI on the play, sending in Jackson, Seymour and Klotz.
 
In the sixth inning, freshman Michelle Birkholz (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) sent out a sacrifice fly to left field and sent in Jackson for an insurance run.
 
UW-Whitewater out-hit UW-Eau Claire 7-4 and kept the Blugolds scoreless over the final six innings.
 
In the first game, the Warhawks were held to just three hits, including one each from Catino, senior Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) and junior Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley).
 
Junior Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) pitched the entire game, registering eight strikeouts. She dropped to 9-5 on the year with the tough-luck loss.
 
The Warhawks continue play Sunday in a WIAC doubleheader against UW-La Crosse at 1 p.m. in La Crosse, Wis. UW-Whitewater enters its final day of the regular season one game ahead of second-place UW-Stout in the conference standings.