Thursday, April 15, 2021

UW-Whitewater Softball Drops Two in WIAC Play

Box Score Game 1: https://uwwsports.com/sports/softball/stats/2021/uw-oshkosh/boxscore/15366

Box Score Game 2: https://uwwsports.com/sports/softball/stats/2021/uw-oshkosh/boxscore/15368

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team held leads past the halfway point in each of the games it played Thursday afternoon but fell in back-to-back contests at UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Warhawks (11-7 overall, 1-3 WIAC) were defeated 5-4 in the opener after the Titans plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh. UW-W dropped a 9-4 decision in Game 2 after UW-Oshkosh scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good.

In Game 1, catcher Nikki Mikosz knocked a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the top of the second inning to give UW-Whitewater a 2-1 lead and a solo homer to lead off the top of the fifth.

The Warhawks’ advantage increased to three runs later in the fifth on a run-scoring single through the left side by designated player Kennedy Cox.

Pitcher Kate Cleveland dropped to 4-3 on the year with the loss, striking out four over 6 1/3 innings.

Third baseman Meg Cohrs, right fielder Meghan Dunning and second baseman Delaney Becker also tallied hits for UW-Whitewater. Centerfielder Vera Pflugradt reached base twice on a pair of walks.

In the nightcap, the Warhawks led 4-2 through 4 1/2 innings before the Titans (10-4, 2-0) broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth.

Cox totaled a team-high three hits, and left fielder Krista Sbarra posted two hits and two RBIs. Mikosz collected a two-run double and added two walks at the plate. Becker and first baseman Kaleigh O’Brien each registered one hit and one run scored.

Starting pitcher Rhiann Dick took the loss, falling to 3-3 for the season. Kathryn Kinsella, Annie Morelli and Marissa Adams each made appearances in relief.

UW-Whitewater continues play on the road this Saturday at UW-Stout. First pitch of the WIAC doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.

Photo and Comments Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Emilia Houwers qualified for the State tennis tournament by placing third in the Janesville Craig Sectionals on Wednesday, April 14. The State Meet will be held at Badger High School on April 22 and 23 this year.

(UW-Whitewater submission) Olivia Kraft, a native of Whitewater, WI, and student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was one of four Warhawks who were named Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the week of April 5-11, 2021.

Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) is the Warhawk baseball team’s third different Pitcher of the Week for the 2021 season. Brandl is a first-time honoree. Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) of the women’s track and field team, the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, is the program’s first selection of the 2021 season.

Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) and Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community), the Women’s Tennis Athletes of the Week in doubles, have now garnered the award twice in 2021. The duo was also recognized for their performance from March 22-28.

Baseball – Pitcher

Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln), Freshman

Brandl didn’t allow a run over two appearances last week, helping the No. 16 Warhawks to a 4-0 record. He started the week Tuesday with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two in UW-Whitewater’s 9-5 victory on the road. Three days later, he tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout, striking out eight in the Warhawks’ 15-0 home triumph in seven innings. Brandl also finished 7-for-21 (.333 avg.) with three doubles and four runs batted at the plate over that span.

Women’s Field

Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield), Freshman

Holland placed first out of 15 competitors in the pole vault with a career-best height of 12-02.00 (3.71 meters) to help the Warhawks place third at Dubuque’s Spartan Invite on Saturday. She is currently tied for the No. 1 mark in both the WIAC and NCAA Division III and was only two feet shy of the UW-W program record in the event. Holland also scored team points in the long jump, placing fifth with a distance of 16-10.75 (5.15 meters), good for 15th on the conference’s outdoor performance list.

Women’s Tennis – Doubles

Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) Senior, and Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community), Junior

Nierman and Kraft posted a 2-0 record in doubles matches last week to help UW-Whitewater remain undefeated (4-0) in the WIAC and extend its unbeaten streak against conference opponents in dual matches to 106. The duo topped Michelle Spicer and Maddie Toboyek 8-1 at No. 1 doubles last Tuesday at UW-Oshkosh, helping the Warhawks post a 9-0 win. Four days later, Nierman and Kraft combined for an 8-0 triumph at No. 2 doubles over Emily Cooper and Alexa Brooks of UW-Eau Claire in UW-Whitewater’s 9-0 victory at Lake Geneva Tennis. Nierman and Kraft are now 4-2 playing together during the 2021 season.

For more than 150 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Game 1 Box Score: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/softball/2021/sb15.htm

Game 2 Box Score: https://static.uwwsports.com/custompages/softball/2021/sb16.htm

After a 17-day layoff between games, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team saw its seven-game win streak snapped Wednesday before recovering in the second game for a doubleheader split against UW-Platteville in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at van Steenderen Softball Complex.

The Warhawks (11-5 overall, 1-1 WIAC) suffered their first home loss of the season in the opener by a 7-6 score before closing the day with a 6-3 triumph in the nightcap.

In Game 2, right fielder Meghan Dunning smashed a two-run homer to left, and catcher Nikki Mikosz added a solo home run of her own as part of UW-W’s three-run fourth inning.

Pitcher Rhiann Dick earned the win, allowing two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings to improve to 3-2 on the season. Annie Morelli picked up her first save of the year, tossing the final 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run.

Dick and Morelli combined to strand 11 Pioneer runners, including three in the fifth inning and two in the second, third and sixth frames.

Mikosz put UW-Whitewater on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI groundout. In the fourth, Dunning hit her two-run shot on an 0-2 count, and, one batter later, Mikosz hit one high over the left-center field fence on the 10th pitch of her at-bat.

After UW-Platteville (7-7, 2-2) plated two runs in the fifth, the Warhawks got both runs back in the bottom of the inning as third baseman Meg Cohrs hit an RBI double to center field. First baseman Kaleigh O’Brien, who walked earlier in the frame, scored from third on a wild pitch with two outs to increase the lead back to four.

The Pioneers cut their deficit to three in the top of the sixth, but Morelli retired the potential tying run on a groundout to end the inning, and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to complete the win.

Cohrs and Mikosz totaled two hits apiece to lead the offense. O’Brien reached twice with one hit and one walk and scored two runs.

In Game 1, UW-Platteville broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the sixth by crossing home plate three times. UW-Whitewater drew to within one after a run-scoring groundout from shortstop Sophia Kinjerski and a two-out, RBI single through the right side by designated player Kennedy Cox.

The Warhawks put the tying run at third with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to send the game to extra innings.

Dunning and second baseman Delaney Becker each registered two hits, and Becker knocked in a pair of runs. Outfielder Vera Pflugradt reached base twice on one hit and one walk and scored one run.

Starting pitcher Kate Cleveland scattered eight hits over four innings, allowing three earned runs. Reliever Marissa Adams fell to 0-1 on the year in the loss, pitching 1 1/3 innings. Annie Morelli tossed the final 1 2/3 frames.

UW-Whitewater visits UW-Oshkosh for another WIAC doubleheader Thursday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.