The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team opened the 2019 season Friday with a split on its first day at the National Training Center Spring Games at Legends Way Fields in Clermont, Fla.
The Warhawks (1-1 overall) fell 3-2 against Hope (Mich.) on a walk-off before besting No. 18 Calvin (Mich.) by a 3-1 score in their second game.
Against Calvin (7-4), UW-Whitewater scored two runs on bases-loaded walks and one more on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to support junior
Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield), who was strong in her season debut on the mound.
Matthias (1-0) struck out 10 batters in seven innings in her complete-game three-hitter, allowing one run on a two-out double in the third inning.
Senior second baseman
Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second to open scoring. Senior centerfielder
Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) then drew a walk to give the Warhawks a 2-0 advantage.
After the Knights halved the UW-W lead with one run in the top of the third, UW-Whitewater made it a two-run cushion again as junior designated player
Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk.
Matthias retired eight straight to close the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before walking the leadoff hitter in the seventh. She went on to strike out the side in the frame to give the Warhawks their first win of the year.
In the opener of the day, UW-Whitewater tied the game in the top of the seventh on a ground ball by Berglund, but left the go-ahead run stranded in scoring position.
Hope (8-3) posted a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to take the game.
Senior first baseman
Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic) finished 2-for-2, including a run-scoring double to right center in the top of the second. Senior shortstop
Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) reached twice on a hit and a walk, and sophomore left fielder
Alexis Addante (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) recorded one hit and one run scored.
Senior pitcher
Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) took the tough-luck loss, striking out five over 6 1/3 innings of work.
The Warhawks return to action Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Central Time against St. Olaf (Minn.), followed by a game against Elmhurst (Ill.) at 11 a.m. Central Time.