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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team turned in a complete performance Tuesday afternoon to defeat UW-River Falls 9-0 in six innings in the quarterfinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship Presented by Culver's at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
With the victory, the No. 2 seed Warhawks (27-8 overall) advance to Thursday's semifinals, where they'll host fourth-seeded UW-Stevens Point at 2 p.m. in Whitewater.
UW-W, which extended its win streak to 11 games, totaled 10 hits, including three home runs, and didn't allow a Falcon runner to advance past second base in any of the final four frames.
UW-River Falls (11-18), the tournament's No. 7 seed, loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second before pitcher
Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) entered the game and induced a flyout to center to end the threat.
The Warhawks responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs, including a two-run homer by second baseman
Delaney Becker (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and a solo homer by right fielder
Taylor Briehl (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley). Catcher
Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) plated two more runs to give UW-W a five-run advantage.
In the top of the third, Dick stranded two more base runners, and UW-Whitewater tacked on another run in the bottom half on Becker's sacrifice fly.
Mikosz brought another run home in the fourth with a base hit to left center, and third baseman
Meg Cohrs (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) knocked a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via run rule.
Mikosz finished 2-for-3 with one run scored and three runs batted in, while shortstop
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) collected two hits and two runs scored. Briehl finished 2-for-3, and Becker registered one run scored and three RBIs. First baseman
Kaleigh O'Brien (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) posted one hit, one walk and two runs scored.
Dick (7-4) tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief for the win. Starter
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) didn't allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of work.
UW-Stevens Point (23-15) downed UW-La Crosse by a 4-1 score in the quarterfinals to reach Thursday's semifinal game.