Monday, April 26, 2021
UW-Whitewater Softball Earns Non-Conference Sweep
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team extended its win streak in true road games to six on Monday afternoon with consecutive victories at UW-La Crosse in a non-conference doubleheader.
The Warhawks (18-8 overall) plated the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning for a 3-2 triumph in the opener in extra innings. In the second game, UW-Whitewater broke open a close game with six runs in the top of the seventh in an 11-5 win.
In Game 1, the Warhawks plated a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out, solo homer to left center by catcher Nikki Mikosz to force extra innings. UW-W loaded the bases but came away empty in the eighth before first baseman Kaleigh O’Brien came through in the ninth with a run-scoring single up the middle.
Pitcher Marissa Adams, who entered the game with two outs in the sixth inning, improved to 2-1 with the win. She allowed two hits over 3 1/3 innings. Kate Cleveland started the game and pitched 5 2/3 frames, surrendering two unearned runs on five hits.
O’Brien tallied four hits to lead UW-W, which out-hit the Eagles by a 14-7 margin, but left 14 runners on base in the contest. Mikosz and third baseman Meg Cohrs posted three hits apiece, and centerfielder Vera Pflugradt reached base twice with one hit and one walk.
In the nightcap, UW-Whitewater took advantage of five errors by UW-La Crosse (9-10), including four in the seventh inning, and totaled 11 hits.
After the Eagles took a 2-0 lead with two in the bottom of the first, the Warhawks responded in the top of the second as O’Brien and shortstop Meghan Dunning hit back-to-back homers.
Pflugradt hit a two-run triple to left in the fourth to give UW-Whitewater a 4-3 advantage, and after UW-La Crosse tied the game at 4-4, second baseman Delaney Becker put the Warhawks ahead for good with an RBI groundout.
Becker, Pflugradt, Mikosz and right fielder Taylor Briehl were each credited with RBIs during UW-W’s big seventh inning.
Pflugradt finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Becker recorded two hits and two RBIs. Dunning collected three hits, three runs scored and one RBI, and O’Brien posted two hits, one run scored and one RBI.
Annie Morelli picked up her second win of the year, tossing one inning of relief. Rhiann Dick tossed the final three innings for her first career save, striking out four during her outing.
Morelli, Dick and starter Kathryn Kinsella combined to strand 11 Eagle runners on the base paths.
UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Oshkosh for another non-conference doubleheader Wednesday starting at 2 p.m. at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
