The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team moved into sole possession of second place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings Saturday afternoon with back-to-back victories over UW-Eau Claire on Senior Day at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
The Warhawks (22-8 overall, 8-4 WIAC) bested the Blugolds 4-1 in the opener before posting a 3-0 shutout in the second game.
UW-Whitewater honored seniors
Marissa Adams (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy),
Alexis Addante (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs),
Taylor Briehl (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley),
Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland),
Sam Lattner (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township),
Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling),
Kaleigh O'Brien (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and
Vera Pflugradt (Lake Zurich, Ill./Stevenson) following the final home regular season games of the year. The team also recognized 2020 graduates
Dani Biesiada (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North),
Mattie Klingenmeyer (Mayville, Wis./Mayville),
Bella Matthias (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) and
Nicole Neitzel (Verona, Wis./Verona Area).
In Game 1, UW-Eau Claire (21-13, 7-5) took the early lead with a run in the top of the first, but the Warhawks responded with four unanswered runs over the next three frames.
Cohrs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a run-scoring groundout, and
Krista Sbarra (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) hit an RBI single to put UW-W ahead for good in the second.
UW-Whitewater added two in the third on a sacrifice fly by O'Brien and a wild pitch.
Pitcher
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) scattered five hits and one walk over seven innings for the complete-game win. She improved to 8-3 on the year.
O'Brien and Sbarra led the offense with two hits apiece, and shortstop
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) scored two runs and posted one hit.
In the nightcap, pitcher
Mallory Hollatz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) tossed a three-hit shutout with four strikeouts to move to 3-0 on the season.
The Warhawks grabbed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk by designated player
Sophia Kinjerski (Maribel, Wis./Denmark).
Pflugradt doubled the UW-W lead with one out in the fourth on an RBI single through the right side, and two batters later, Cohrs made it a three-run game with a two-out, RBI hit near the left field line.
Pflugradt finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Dunning reached base three times with one hit and two walks. Cohrs totaled two hits, and Mikosz collected one hit and one walk.
UW-Whitewater visits UW-Platteville for a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m.
