Related Link:
Whitewater Regional Webpage
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team defeated Spalding 2-1 in walkoff fashion to open regional action at the van Steenderen Softball Complex in Whitewater Thursday.
UWW advances to play Coe College tomorrow (Friday) at 11 a.m. Coe was the winner of the first game of the day, topping Transylvania 6-5 on a ninth inning walkoff homerun. Spalding and Transylvania will faceoff in an elimination game scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday.
The Warhawk pitching staff dominated with 13 strikeouts in the game but Spalding was able to push across a run in the fourth while the UWW offense struggled to gain momentum.
Maddy Anderson (Waukesha, Wis./North) got the start on the mound and struck out at least two Spalding batters in each of the first three innings. In the fourth, a walk followed by a single that just made it passed the outstretched glove of a diving
Delaney Becker (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) at second base put two runners on. The next batter pushed a soft blooper into the Bermuda Triangle around second base allowing the runner from second to score. Anderson got out of the jam fielding a ground ball up the middle and tossing to third to get the lead runner before striking out the next two batters.
Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) stepped into the circle with one on and now outs in the top of the fifth and took over where Anderson had left off striking out two of the next three batters. Next inning was more of the same, a pop up followed by a pair of strikeouts.
The top of the seventh was the only defensive frame for the Warhawks that didn't feature at least two Ks, but still UWW didn't allow a runner passed first base to head to the bottom of the seventh trailing 1-0.
Meghan Dunning (Plainfield, Ill./South) drew a one out walk and
Ally Dietz (Lake Villa, Ill./Lakes Community) came up clutch with a pinch hit single to left center.
Belle Lapacek (Downers Grove, Ill./South) took over running duties for Dietz at first base and
Sophia Kinjerski (Maribel, Wis./Denmark) stepped to the plate.
Kinjerski, getting the start in right field for her first appearance since May 4, registered the game tying hit. Tagging a ball that got through the left side of the infield quickly, Dunning motored around third and safely touched home as Lapacek and Kinjerski moved up a base on the throw.
Krista Sbarra (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) fouled off a number of pitches in the next at bat before putting one in play. The pop up had the second baseman back pedaling into the grass, the ball hit her glove and popped out allowing Lapacek to score from third for the walkoff.
Kinjerski led UWW at the plate going 1-2 with a walk and a RBI.
In the circle, Anderson tossed the first four fanning nine while allowing four hits. Hock blanked Spalding the rest of the way while posting four Ks.
