The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference outright with a split against UW-La Crosse Saturday. With its 15th conference title, the Warhawks secure hosting right for the league tournament next week. 

The WIAC Tournament will begin Thursday at the van Steenderen Softball Complex. As the top seed, the Warhawks will play the third game of the day slated to begin at 2 pm. UWW will play the winner of the fourth and fifth seed.

The first game was an absolute thriller - a 13 inning battle with the Warhawks coming out on top. The game is the longest for UW-Whitewater since the Warhawks' 3-2, 13-inning win over UWEC in April of 2019.

UWW got on the board in the bottom of the third on a two-out rally. Maggie Ward (Downers Grove, Ill./North) singled to center to spark the rally. Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) opened her incredible day at the plate with a double down the left field line that plated Ward. Taylor Koehler (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) singled through the right side for another RBI and a 2-0 Whitewater lead. 

That score held until the top of the sixth as UWL blasted a two-out, two-RBI homer to tie the game. 

The squads went three-up, three-down until the bottom of the eighth when Wickman tallied another double but the Warhawks couldn't drive her in. The Eagles followed getting a runner to second in the top of the ninth but UWW got out of the jam. 

UW-Whitewater threatened again in the bottom of the 12th advancing a runner to third with one out but couldn't capitalize. The Warhawks finally broke through in the 13th. 

Ward singled on a bunt to open the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Koehler flew out to left field and Ward showcased her speed tagging up successfully. Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) registered the walkoff with a single to left field. 

Wickman went 4-5 with three doubles to lead the UWW offense. 

Maddy Anderson (Waukesha, Wis./North) pitched a fantastic 8.1 innings striking out five while allowing just five hits. Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) came in for the final 4.2 innings. She struck out four and allowed a single hit to improve to 12-1 in the circle this season. 

UW-La Crosse's offense heated up and the Eagles took game two by run-rule 11-1 in five innings. 

Wickman led the offense with a perfect 3-3 game at the plate adding another double. For the day, Wickman was 7-8 with four doubles. 

Prior to the games, UW-Whitewater recognized the 2008 national runner-up team on the 15th anniversary of one of the best seasons in program history. Saturday also marked the team's annual alumni recognition.