The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team fell to host Central College 6-1 in the battle of unbeaten teams in a NCAA Regional in Pella, Iowa Friday morning. The Warhawks will face the winner of Bethel and UW-Superior in the final game of the day Friday. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. but will likely be later. 

The Dutch capitalized on what they do best, small ball and speed. Central's offensive scheme is solely to pressure the defense with fake bunts, actual bunts, hit and runs and aggressive base running. In the top of the first, their strategy worked as they pushed a leadoff walk all the way around to score the first run of the game. The second run was plated on a RBI single later in the frame for an early 2-0 Dutch lead. 

After a three-up, three-down top of the second, Central added two more on two hits in the third. The Dutch registered three stolen bases in the inning to push runners into scoring position. 

The Warhawks had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Kaitlyn Weidemann (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) reached on an error and moved to second on Bella Eggert's (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) single to center field. Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) drew a walk to load the bases but the Dutch got out of the jam with a strikeout. 

Central increased their lead to 5-0 in the fourth capitalizing on defensive miscue and a pair of base knocks. The Dutch added another in the sixth on one hit after a squeeze play plated the run. 

UW-Whitewater got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) tagged a first pitch strike that cleared the wall in left center for a solo homer. Taylor Koehler (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) followed with a double to center field, but the Dutch stopped the momentum shift in its tracks to maintain the five-run advantage. 

Eggert tallied two of the Warhawks' six hits in the game. UWW left nine runners stranded on the base paths in the game. 

Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) suffered the loss in her first collegiate start. She allowed just two hits in the first two innings of work. Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) went the next four in the circle and Kate Cleveland (DePere, Wis./Ashwaubenon) rounded out the game pitching the seventh inning.