Related Links:
NCAA Whitewater Regional Web Page
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team recovered from a loss in its opening game of the day Saturday to defeat No. 21 Coe (Iowa) by a 4-2 score in its second game of the day and earn a spot in Sunday's championship game at the Whitewater, Wisconsin Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
 
The Warhawks (28-13 overall) were topped 2-0 by Carthage to start the day before making several key plays in the nightcap on their way to clinching a spot in their second consecutive regional championship contest.
 
UW-Whitewater will need to defeat Carthage (28-14) twice on Sunday to punch its ticket to next week's NCAA Super Regional round. The Lady Reds advance with one win.
 
Clinging to a three-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Warhawks, who were the visiting team in the box score, switched the momentum back into their favor on defense as sophomore right fielder Kaiden Jackson (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) threw out a runner trying to score on a base hit to keep the lead at three.
 
The Kohawks (33-12) cut their deficit down to two later in the inning, but junior Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) relieved senior starter Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and induced a groundout with a runner in scoring position.
 
Biesiada pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve the win and earn her program-record sixth save of the season.
 
Camardo (12-7) scattered six hits and struck out six over 5 2/3 innings and helped herself at the plate with a three-hit day.
 
Coe took the first lead of the game on a home run in the bottom of the second inning, but UW-Whitewater struck back with two in the top of the fourth on an error and a run-scoring groundout by senior first baseman Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic).
 
The Warhawks scored again in the fifth to increase their lead to 3-1 on an RBI groundout by junior third baseman Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland). The team added to its lead in the sixth on a run-scoring single to right by senior designated player Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West).
 
Seymour totaled two hits, one run scored and one RBI. Jackson, Ethington and senior second baseman Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) each finished with one hit.
 
In the first game of the day, UW-Whitewater matched Carthage's six hits but left seven runners stranded, including two each in the third and fourth frames.
 
Junior Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) took the tough-luck loss, falling to 14-4 after allowing only two runs over five innings. Biesiada pitched two shutout frames in relief.
 
Jackson and senior centerfielder Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) led the offense with two hits apiece.
 
Sunday's game will be the fourth between Carthage and UW-Whitewater this season. The Warhawks topped the Lady Reds in consecutive games on April 25 prior to Saturday's result. First pitch on Sunday slated for 12 p.m., with the second game to follow at 2:30 p.m., if necessary.