Elmhurst, IL - The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team cruised to a pair of wins on the road Thursday. The Warhawks blasted nine extra base hits over the course of the doubleheader, winning game one 7-0 and taking the nightcap 8-0.
UWW got the offense rolling in the third inning of the opener.
Bella Eggert (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) sparked the bats with a leadoff bunt single. The speedster beat out the throw, peaked at second and took off toward the empty base winning the foot race against the Blue Jay defense with a head first dive into the bag.
Brooke Mangler (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) pushed Eggert to third on sacrifice bunt and
Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) sent a fly ball to center for the sacrifice and a 1-0 Warhawk lead.
Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) took one for the team and
Claire Kohnle (Tisch Mills, Wis./Kewaunee) followed with a walk in the next two at bats.
Kaitlyn Weidemann (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) capitalized sending a deep ball sailing over the fence in left center for the three-run four-bagger giving UWW a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) provided a defensive highlight for the Warhawks. The shortstop bolted up the middle, perfectly reading a liner and stretching for a marvelous catch behind second base. UW-Whitewater ending the inning two batters later as Kostroski hauled in a soft liner and tossed to Giese at second to double-off the runner and end the inning.
Defense led to offense as the Warhawks added three in the top of the seventh. Kohnle provided the first run on a RBI single to right field. Weidemann scored the other two on a single to center.
Eight Warhawks tallied hits in the opener with Weidemann pacing the offense with a 2-4 game in the batter's box. She posted five RBI in the contest.
Josie Hammen (Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly) went the distance in the circle. The sophomore scattered five hits across seven innings while striking out five in the complete game shutout to improve to 7-1 on the season.
The bats kept rolling in game two. Giese got the party started in the fourth with a RBI double to left field that had Kohnle coming in to score.
Dani Peshia (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) followed with a double to center to plate Giese and give UWW a 2-0 lead.
Eggert had one of the top defensive plays of the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Elmhurst leadoff tagged a ball to deep center but Eggert had a bead on the ball - diving back toward the warning track to rob an extra base hit from the Blue Jays.
Peshia struck again in the sixth with a RBI double to center, advancing to third on the throw.
Belle Lapacek (Downers Grove, Ill./South) took over on the bases as
Liv Ybarra (Chicago, Ill./Taft) stepped into the box. Ybarra laid down a perfectly placed bunt as the Lapacek dashed down the line. With no chance to get the speedy Lapacek, Elmhurst opted for the throw to first but Ybarra was too quick and beat out the throw.
Later in the inning, Wickman blasted a ball through the infield for a two-RBI double. Kohnle wrapped up the sixth with a RBI single to right field.
The final run of the contest came in the top of the seventh. Peshia capped a phenomenal game at the plate, annihilating a ball that hit the trees well beyond the wall in left field. The solo shot extended the margin to 8-0.
Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) came in for the final inning, sending the Blue Jays back to the dugout in order.
Madi DeBennette (Wadsworth, Ill./Carmel Catholic) tossed a gem allowing just a single hit while striking out three in six innings of work. She picked up the win to improve to 5-1.
UWW accumulated 11 hits in the game led by Peshia's 3-4, 3 RBI game at the plate. Kohnle was perfect in the batter's box tallying hits in all three at bats while Wickman added a pair of hits in the game.
