Saturday, May 1, 2021
Warhawk Softball Takes Two on Senior Day
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team moved into sole possession of second place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings Saturday afternoon with back-to-back victories over UW-Eau Claire on Senior Day at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
The Warhawks (22-8 overall, 8-4 WIAC) bested the Blugolds 4-1 in the opener before posting a 3-0 shutout in the second game.
UW-Whitewater honored seniors Marissa Adams, Alexis Addante, Taylor Briehl, Meg Cohrs, Sam Lattner, Nikki Mikosz, Kaleigh O’Brien and Vera Pflugradt following the final home regular season games of the year. The team also recognized 2020 graduates Dani Biesiada, Mattie Klingenmeyer, Bella Matthias and Nicole Neitzel.
In Game 1, UW-Eau Claire (21-13, 7-5) took the early lead with a run in the top of the first, but the Warhawks responded with four unanswered runs over the next three frames.
Cohrs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a run-scoring groundout, and Krista Sbarra hit an RBI single to put UW-W ahead for good in the second.
UW-Whitewater added two in the third on a sacrifice fly by O’Brien and a wild pitch.
Pitcher Kate Cleveland scattered five hits and one walk over seven innings for the complete-game win. She improved to 8-3 on the year.
O’Brien and Sbarra led the offense with two hits apiece, and shortstop Meghan Dunning scored two runs and posted one hit.
In the nightcap, pitcher Mallory Hollatz tossed a three-hit shutout with four strikeouts to move to 3-0 on the season.
The Warhawks grabbed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk by designated player Sophia Kinjerski.
Pflugradt doubled the UW-W lead with one out in the fourth on an RBI single through the right side, and two batters later, Cohrs made it a three-run game with a two-out, RBI hit near the left field line.
Pflugradt finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Dunning reached base three times with one hit and two walks. Cohrs totaled two hits, and Mikosz collected one hit and one walk.
UW-Whitewater visits UW-Platteville for a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m.
