The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team took advantage of strong pitching and early run support Wednesday for a 13-1 victory at UW-Platteville in five innings in the second game of a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.
The Warhawks (8-8 overall, 1-1 WIAC) dropped the opener by a 14-6 score in six innings. Both of Wednesday's games ended by run rule.
In Game 2, UW-Whitewater plated four runs in the second inning, four more in the fourth and five in the fifth behind 14 hits in the contest.
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) improved to 3-0 for the season, allowing one unearned run on three hits over her five innings of work.
Centerfielder
Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) posted three hits, one run scored and four runs batted in to lead UW-W, which totaled five doubles in the game. Right fielder
Sophia Kinjerski (Maribel, Wis./Denmark) tallied two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs.
The Warhawks scored all four of their runs in the top of the second with two outs. A double by third baseman
Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) and an error plated designated player
Sydney Anderson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) for the first run of the game. Catcher
Kennedy Cox (Janesville, Wis./Craig), Kinjerski and Kostroski followed with RBI hits, including back-to-back doubles by Cox and Kinjerski.
The Pioneers (8-10, 1-1) responded with one run in the bottom of the frame, but UW-Whitewater rallied again with two outs behind two-run singles by Kinjerski and Kostroski to make it 8-1 after 2 1/2 frames.
Pinch hitter
Claire Kohnle (Kewaunee, Wis./Kewaunee), Kostroski, pinch hitter
Hannah Wusterbarth (Oconto, Wis./Oconto) and shortstop
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) provided run-scoring hits in the top of the fifth to extend the margin to 12 runs.
Cleveland pitched around a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth to close out the game.
UW-Platteville broke the first game of the day open with a seven-run third inning.
Kinjerski finished 2-for-3 with one double, one run scored and three RBIs to lead the offense. Dunning and left fielder
Krista Sbarra (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) added two hits apiece and Kostroski plated two runs.
Mallory Hollatz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) took the loss to drop to 4-4 for the year.
Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine),
Kathryn Kinsella (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) and
Annie Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) each pitched in relief.
The Warhawks host UW-River Falls this Saturday for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Alumni Day at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
