The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team remained unbeaten on its home field Saturday with a pair of wins over UW-River Falls in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
 
The Warhawks (15-7 overall, 5-1 WIAC) shut out the Falcons 5-0 in the first game before breaking through offensively for a 12-5 triumph in the nightcap. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to be played in River Falls but was relocated due to inclement weather.
 
In the opener, junior Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) tossed her third straight complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits and two walks while striking out 10 over seven innings. She improved to 8-1 with the victory.
 
UW-Whitewater struck first in the third inning on a two-out, run-scoring base hit through the right side by junior shortstop Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland). The team added two more in the sixth on a two-run homer by senior designated player Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West).
 
The Warhawks plated two more insurance runs in the seventh on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Seymour, who finished 2-for-4 with one walk, one run scored and three RBI.
 
Sophomore right fielder Kaiden Jackson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) posted three hits and scored one run, and Cohrs recorded two hits. Sophomore left fielder Vera Pflugradt (Lake Zurich, Ill./Stevenson) reached base four times on three walks and one hit and added one run scored.
 
In Game 2, UW-River Falls (6-16, 0-4) took the lead initially with a run in the first inning. UW-Whitewater responded with six in the second and four in the third for a commanding lead, and finished with 19 hits in the contest.
 
Senior shortstop Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) reached base five times with four hits and one walk, and collected two runs scored and three RBI. Senior centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) hit a three-run homer as part of the big second inning and finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI. Sophomore designated player Kaleigh O'Brien (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) added three hits, and junior first baseman Nicole Neitzel (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) tallied two hits, two runs scored and one RBI.
 
Senior Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) brought her record back to .500 at 5-5 with the win, pitching the first four innings of the affair. Junior Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief, and Matthias finished the game, pitching the final 1 2/3.
 
The Warhawks are tentatively scheduled to host UW-Stout Sunday for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at van Steenderen Softball Complex. Check back to uwwsports.com for the latest schedule information.