By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Winona, Minn. – The Warhawks’ phenomenal 2025 campaign came to a close in the NCAA Division III Super Regional hosted by Saint Mary’s University Friday. UW-Whitewater fell in the opener 4-0 and the if necessary game 7-1 to wrap up the season with a 39-8 record.
UW-Whitewater opened the season on a 15-0 run. In Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, UWW went 12-2 to secure the program’s 16 regular season conference title. Receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, UW-Whitewater made its 25th appearance in the postseason, third trip to the Super Regionals and the Warhawks’ tallied win #800 for Head Coach Brenda Volk along the way.
Friday saw the host school take an early lead as the Cardinals utilized small ball to push a single run across. SMU would add two more in the sixth and another in the seventh. Meanwhile, the Warhawks bats just couldn’t gather momentum. UWW was making good contact, registering six hits in the contest, but Saint Mary’s always seemed to stifle the momentum quickly.
Six different Warhawks recorded hits in the game while Brooke Hock suffered the loss in the circle to move to 7-2 on the season.
Game two was a little deja vu as the Warhawks won the coin flip for home team and SMU took an early lead on a solo homerun in the top of the first. They added two in the top of the second and a few more in the top of the seventh.
The Cardinal defense held the Warhawks at bay with some fantastic defensive plays, robbing multiple shots that looked to be at least base knocks with sliding, diving and leaping catching.
True to form, UW-Whitewater did not quit as Dani Peshia blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, but SMU held on for the win.
All of the UWW hits came from different Warhawks in the game. Josie Hammen suffered the loss to move to 18-3 on the season.
In a season that featured big win streaks, thrilling comeback victories and numerous gritty team wins, Friday was the first time UW-Whitewater had fallen in back-to-back games across their 47-game 2025 campaign.
