The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team was defeated in back-to-back games against UW-River Falls Saturday in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Day at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
The Warhawks (8-10 overall, 1-3 WIAC) were topped 6-1 in Game 1 before falling 3-2 in the nightcap.
In Game 2, shortstop
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) and first baseman
Brooke Mangler (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) hit back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the sixth inning, but UW-Whitewater fell just short in its comeback attempt, leaving the tying run at second base and the winning run at first in the bottom of the seventh.
Centerfielder
Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) drew a pair of walks and left fielder
Krista Sbarra (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East), designated player
Sydney Anderson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien) and catcher
Kennedy Cox (Janesville, Wis./Craig) also each reached base twice with one walk and one hit apiece.
Mallory Hollatz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) fell to 4-5 despite striking out six over a complete-game pitching effort.
UW-W left eight runners on base in the contest, including at least one in each frame from the third inning on.
In the opener, the Falcons plated three runs in the top of the third and held the lead the rest of the way.
The Warhawks scored one run in the bottom of the seventh on a run-scoring single to right field by Dunning.
Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) took the loss for UW-W, dropping to 3-1 on the year after pitching three-plus innings.
Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief before
Kathryn Kinsella (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) pitched the final 1 1/3 frames.
Cox reached base three times with one hit and two walks. Dunning and Kostroski each tallied one hit and one walk. Sbarra registered one hit and one run scored.
Following the first game, the Warhawks recognized a group of approximately 40 alumni in attendance.
UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Stout Sunday for a WIAC doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
