The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team dropped consecutive games Friday in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against No. 14 UW-Oshkosh on Senior Day presented by Educators Credit Union at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
The Warhawks (10-12 overall, 3-5 WIAC) were edged 1-0 in the opener before falling 6-0 in the second contest.
Following the conclusion of the doubleheader, seniors
Kennedy Cox (Janesville, Wis./Craig) and
Annie Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) were recognized on the field by their coaches and teammates. Cox and Morelli were part of back-to-back WIAC regular season championships in 2019 and 2021 and the team's trip to the NCAA Whitewater Regional final in 2019.
In Game 1, UW-Whitewater stranded 11 base runners, including three in the second inning and two in the third and seventh frames.
The Titans (20-4, 6-0) scored the game's lone run in the top of the second.
Shortstop
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) led the Warhawks with two hits and seven fielding assists, including cutdowns of two runners at home plate. First baseman
Kendall Klatt (Kildeer, Ill./Mundelein), designated player
Sydney Anderson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) and left fielder
Krista Sbarra (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) each added one hit. Second baseman
Brooke Mangler (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) drew a pair of walks.
UW-W put the game-tying run at second base and the game-winning run at first with two outs in the seventh but came up empty in its rally attempt.
Pitcher
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) took the tough-luck loss, scattering five hits and three walks over six innings.
Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) pitched around a pair of hits in the seventh for one shutout inning in relief.
In the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning to break open a close contest.
Dunning finished 2-for-3 at the plate and third baseman
Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) recorded one hit.
Pitcher
Mallory Hollatz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) took the loss and fell to 4-6 on the season.
Kathryn Kinsella (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) recorded one out in the fifth before Dick and Morelli tossed scoreless relief stints.
The Warhawks host UW-Stevens Point for a conference doubleheader Tuesday starting at 2 p.m. in Whitewater.