Whitewater, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team wrapped up the week with a pair of non-conference wins over Carthage at the van Steenderen Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The Warhawks took the opener 5-4 and won the nightcap 2-0 to improve to 21-3 on the season.
UWW opened the scoring in the bottom of the third in game one.
Bella Eggert (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) laid down a perfectly placed bunt and beat out the throw to first for an infield single. The speedster swiped second and moved up to third on
Maggie Ward's (Downers Grove, Ill./North) sacrifice bunt.
Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) capitalized with a fly ball to right center that was deep enough for Eggert to tag easily for a 1-0 lead.
The Firebirds knotted the game with a single run in the top of the fourth, but the Warhawks had the response in the bottom.
Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) blasted a towering shot that cleared the fence in right center for a solo bomb. A Carthage miscue and another infield single for Eggert put two on with two out. Ward tagged a screamer down the right field line for a two-RBI triple and a 4-1 UWW lead.
Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and advanced to second on a groundout. Giese brought Wickman around to score on a deep drive off the wall in right field for a RBI triple.
The Firebirds plated three in the sixth, but the Warhawk defense held for the 5-4 win.
Eggert, Ward and Giese all registered multiple hits in the game to lead the UWW offense.
Josie Hammen (Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly) got the start and the win allowing just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work to improve to 8-1 on the season.
Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) tallied the save in 1.1 innings of relief - her third of the year.
All of the scoring in game two came in the bottom of the first. Eggert led off the frame with a single to the shortstop. She stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Wickman walked and then jogged to second during the next at bat as the defense opted to refrain from making a throw down.
Claire Kohnle (Tisch Mills, Wis./Kewaunee) followed with another walk to load the bases and
Kaitlyn Weidemann (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) capitalized. Weidemann blasted a ball up the middle that deflected off the pitcher. The shortstop dove to stop the ball near second base but the ball came loose as Kohnle slid into the bag while both Eggert and Wickman cruised home.
Madi DeBennette (Wadsworth, Ill./Carmel Catholic) pitched a gem and the Warhawk defense was stellar to keep the Firebirds off the board for the shutout. DeBennette improved to 7-1, picking up her third win of the week, with a complete game. She struck out four and allowed just three hits without issuing a single walk.
Eggert and Weidemann tallied a pair of hits to lead the UWW offense in the contest.
