The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team earned one win by run rule and picked up its second victory over a top five opponent of the season Tuesday at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.
 
The Warhawks (5-3 overall) started the day with an 8-0 triumph over New Rochelle (N.Y.) in a contest shortened to five innings by run rule. The team the bested fifth-ranked MIT by a 4-0 score to earn its fourth straight win.
 
Against MIT (6-2), senior pitcher Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) tossed a four-hit shutout, allowing only two walks while striking out five over seven innings. She improved to 2-2 on the season with the victory.
 
Senior centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) socked a two-run homer, her second long ball in two days, and tallied two hits and two runs scored to lead the offense. Sophomore left fielder Vera Pflugradt (Lake Zurich, Ill./Stevenson) recorded two hits and one run batted in, and junior catcher Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) plated one run.
 
UW-Whitewater took the lead for good in the third on Pflugradt's RBI triple that scored senior second baseman Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). The team tallied one more in the fourth as Mikosz plated Catino, who tripled with one out in the frame.
 
The Engineers threatened in both the fourth and fifth, but Camardo stranded two in each inning, including runners at second and third in the latter frame.
 
Catino homered to center with one out in the sixth to double the Warhawks' advantage, and Camardo retired the final six hitters she faced.
 
Against New Rochelle (9-6), UW-Whitewater scored two runs in the bottom of the first and didn't look back, totaling 12 hits in the contest.
 
Berglund, senior first baseman Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic) and junior third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) registered two hits apiece. Berglund added two runs scored and two RBIs, and sophomore Kaiden Jackson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) collected one triple, two RBIs and one run scored.
 
Junior pitcher Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) moved to 3-1 on the season, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out five over four innings. Junior Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) pitched a scoreless frame in relief.
 
The Warhawks continue action in Clermont Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Central Time against Middlebury (Vt.) followed by a game against Luther (Iowa) at 11 a.m. Central Time.