Cleveland, OH -- The UW-Whitewater softball team opened the 2025 NCAA Regional hosted by Case Western in spectacular fashion Thursday. Josie Hammen (Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly) tossed the first no-hitter in NCAA play in league history as the Warhawks topped Penn College of Technology 5-0. 

The day didn't start off as planned as a rain storm popped up in the middle of warmups causing a delay. The Warhawks headed to a locker room to wait out the next two hours before heading back to field to re-warmup. The delay didn't seem to have an impact as the Warhawks took an early lead and Hammen shutdown the Wildcats. 

JJ Jakosalem (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove) took one for the team to leadoff the bottom of the third. Kaitlyn Weidemann (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) laid down a nifty bunt and legged out the infield single followed by a walk from Bella Eggert (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) to load the bases. Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) put the ball in play and forced a miscue to push the first run across. Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) found the 5-6 hole beating the diving shortstop for a RBI single. Grace Wickman (Wausaukee, Wis./Peshtigo) scored another on a grounder before Dani Peshia (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) tagged a ball up the middle. The second baseman made a diving stop but Peshia got the infield single and an RBI for a 4-0 lead. Auburn Roberson (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) plated the final run of the inning, and the game, on a grounder that the shortstop made a diving play on. Despite the great defensive effort, Giese was able to score from third and give UWW a 5-0 advantage.

The top of the fourth saw the lone Wildcat batter reach on a walk. Hammen threw to just one over the minimum, one batter away from the perfect game. 

The no-hitter is the first of Hammen's collegiate career, the first seven-inning no-hitter for UW-Whitewater since 2017, and the first no-hitter by any WIAC pitcher in the NCAA tournament in conference history. 

The Warhawks advance to face the winner of Case Western Reserve and Lebanon Valley tomorrow (Friday) at 11 AM ET. All games of the Cleveland regional can be viewed live on NCAA Champs Pass.