The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team used three outstanding pitching performances Friday afternoon on its way to a doubleheader sweep over UW-La Crosse at van Steenderen Softball Complex in Whitewater.
 
The Warhawks, who are one-half game behind first-place UW-Eau Claire in the conference standings, topped the Eagles 7-0 in the opener before taking the nightcap, 3-0.
 
In Game 1, junior Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) had a no-hitter going through six innings and finished with her third one-hitter of the year and eighth of her career. Matthias (12-2) collected eight strikeouts in her fifth shutout of the season.
 
Junior third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) posted a two-out, run-scoring double to left center to start the scoring in the bottom of the first.
 
UW-Whitewater added to the lead in the fourth as junior catcher Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) knocked home two runs with a double to center and senior left fielder Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) posted an RBI single with two outs.
 
The Warhawks tallied three more times in the fifth inning on an error to provide more cushion for Matthias, who struck out the last two hitters with two on in the top of the seventh to close out the win.
 
Cohrs and senior second baseman Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) totaled two hits and one walk apiece to lead the offense.
 
In the second game, senior Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and junior Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) combined for a six-hit shutout. Junior first baseman Nicole Neitzel (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) plated what held up as the game-winning run on a groundout in the second frame.
 
Sophomore left fielder Vera Pflugradt (Lake Zurich, Ill./Stevenson) sliced a two-run homer down the left field line in the fourth inning for a pair of key insurance runs.
 
Camardo (9-6) escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the fifth inning before giving way to Biesiada, who tossed two hitless, scoreless frames for her fifth save of the season to tie the school record for saves in one season.
 
Cohrs, Pflugradt and senior centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) recorded two hits apiece in the contest.
 
The Warhawks visit UW-Eau Claire Sunday for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. to close the regular season. UW-Whitewater will need a two-game sweep to win the conference and earn hosting privileges for next week's WIAC Tournament.