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Whitewater, Wisconsin Regional Web Page
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team opened the NCAA Championship with a strong performance Friday afternoon, downing Eureka (Ill.) 10-0 in five innings in its first game of the Whitewater, Wisconsin Regional at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
 
The Warhawks (27-12 overall) advance in the winners' bracket to face Carthage, which downed No. 21 Coe (Iowa) by a 3-1 score earlier Friday.
 
UW-Whitewater erupted for a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-out grand slam by senior centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove), to put the game out of reach.
 
Junior Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) stranded a runner at second in the top of the fifth to finish off a one-hit shutout against the Red Devils (27-7), who entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in batting average and runs per game.
 
Matthias (14-3) struck out six during her performance.
 
Senior designated player Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) registered one double, one home run and two runs batted in while scoring a pair of runs. Senior shortstop Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) plated two runs, and junior third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) finished 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI.
 
Senior first baseman Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic) collected two hits and one run scored, and sophomore right fielder Kaiden Jackson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) totaled one hit and one run.
 
Saturday's game against Carthage (27-14) is scheduled for 11 a.m. The loser will play an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, while the winner advances to Sunday's regional championship game, which is scheduled for 12 p.m.