Today is Monday, November 25, 2024
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Oshkosh, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team topped UW-Oshkosh 2-1 to claim the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title and secure the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The tournament title is the program’s eleventh overall and first since 2018.
UWW will find out where they are headed for next week for regional action in Monday’s selection show on ncaa.com at 10 a.m.
UW-Whitewater’s lucky numbers were one and two this week. The Warhawks won all four games of the WIAC Tournament by a score of 2-1. Coming in as the number four seed, two of UWW’s wins were against the number one seed, UW-Oshkosh, and a third came against number two seeded UW-Stevens Point. Warhawk pitcher Brooke Hock, who wears number 12, picked up a save in the first three of UWW’s games in the tournament and registered the win in the championship game Saturday. The theme would continue on the offensive end in the title game.
In the bottom of the second, Grace Wickman – sporting jersey number one – led off the frame with an absolute smash to left center. The second Wickman connected on the pitch, there was no doubt the ball was leaving the park. The Warhawks sprinted out of the dugout to meet Wickman at home celebrating the 1-0 lead.
With all of the momentum in Whitewater’s corner, Maggie Ward continued the frame reaching via catcher’s interference with one out. Kiera Jarrett singled up the middle and JJ Jakosalem took one for the team to load the bases with one out. The Titans opted to get the out at home on a fielder’s choice for out number two, but the bases remained loaded. Kaitlyn Weidemann – who wears number two – drew a walk to score Jarrett and give UWW a 2-0 lead.
UW-Oshkosh cut the lead in half in the top of the third using three hits to plate a single run in the frame.
After a fantastic start by Rhiann Dick, the senior passed the ball to Hock for the final four frames. Hock entered with one on base and zero outs but retired three consecutive Titans. After a leadoff walk in the fifth, Hock got the next three on a pair of groundouts and a fly out that Bella Eggert hauled in in center field.
UW-Whitewater thwarted another UWO opportunity in the sixth after the leadoff batter reached on a walk. With a full count on the next batter, the Titan runner at first bolted early on the pitch. Hock threw it by the UWO hitter for the strikeout as the first base umpire signaled indicating the runner left early and was out for a different version of a double play. Eggert tracked down a fly ball in center for the final out of the top of the sixth.
The top of the seventh went 1-2-3. Eggert captured the first out on a fly ball. Wickman fielded a grounder and threw a dart to Taylor Koehler at first for the second out. Ward secured the title by catching a deep fly ball in left field as the Warhawks streamed out of the dugout in celebration.
Each pitching staff allowed three hits in the game, all by different batters. Dick scattered three hits across three innings of work while striking out two. Hock no-hit the Titans the rest of the way fanning two to improve to 6-1 on the season.
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Oshkosh, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team defeated UW-Stevens Point 2-1 to advance to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game. The title game is slated for 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Box Score
The Warhawks will play the winner of UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout/UW-Oshkosh for the tournament title Saturday. The WIAC Tournament champion will receive the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament.
UW-Whitewater had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the bottom of the second. Taylor Koehler laced a ball up the middle to lead off the frame. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, she moved up 60 feet on a Kiera Jarrett single through the left side. The speedy Belle Lapacek took over for Jarrett at first base. Lapacek drew a throw down to second on the next pitch and Koehler took off for home on the throw. Koehler was forced to the back side of home plate and attempted to slide around the catcher, but the tag was put on and an out called.
The pitcher’s duel continued into the fifth when the Warhawks broke the stalemate. Maggie Ward led off the frame with what appeared to be a fly out to left field. However, as the play was being made, the home plate umpire signaled for catcher interference and Ward stayed put on first base before moving to second on a sacrifice. Maddy Anderson came in to hit and singled on the first pitch to left center to put runners on the corners. Abby Borchardt took over to run at first base and stole second in the next at bat.
With runners on second and third and one out, head coach Brenda Volk gave the sign for a squeeze play and Meghan Dunning laid down the bunt. The first baseman fielded and shoveled to home as Ward slid into the plate. Through the dust, the ball came flying out of the catcher’s mitt and caromed off the fence. Meanwhile, Volk’s arm was circling to keep the speedy Borchardt going around third and came sliding into home for a 2-0 lead.
The Pointers cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth. After a leadoff single, a one out fielder’s choice had both the runner and batter safe. On the next pitch, the Pointer runners took off and JJ Jakosalem had a perfect throw to Dunning covering third. Catching, turning and laying the tag on UWSP’s diving runner, Dunning had out number two.
A hit-by-pitch, the Pointers’ runner at first got into a pickle between first and second. The runner from third scored but the Warhawks got the out to head to the seventh inning.
UWW didn’t capitalize on Bella Eggert’s leadoff single, but the defense held. Brooke Hock sent the first batter back to the dugout on a swinging strikeout. After a single to left center, Hock had the next batter fanning at a strike number three. The Pointers stole second, but Hock ended the game with yet another K.
UW-Whitewater’s four hits came from four different Warhawks. Maddy Anderson got the start and pitched a gem. She struck out three while scattering three hits across five innings to improve to 11-3 on the season. Hock registered the save – her third of the 2024 WIAC tournament and eleventh of the season.
Whitewater hosted East Troy for a conference soccer game on Thursday, May 9.
Whitewater won 3-0, with goals by Belle Peterson (asst. Mayte Navejas), Mayte Navejas (asst. Belle Peterson), and Isabella Aranda (asst. Mayte Navejas).
Article Submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the first, second and third rounds of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship May 9-11 at UW-Whitewater Outdoor Tennis Complex.
UW-Whitewater (10-9) received an automatic bid into the 49-team field by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team Tournament. The Warhawks are making the 16th NCAA appearance in program history and will open first round action against Carleton College (Minn.) (17-0) on May 9. The winner will face Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) (14-6) in the second round on May 10.
Hope College (Mich.) (19-5), Ohio Northern University (18-5) and University of Chicago (Ill.) (18-1) will also participate in the six-team regional.
The bracket may be viewed here.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the first, second and third rounds of the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship May 10-12 at UW-Whitewater Outdoor Tennis Complex.
UW-Whitewater (18-2) secured an automatic bid into the 44-team field by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. The Warhawks are making the 15th NCAA appearance in program history and will face the winner of Grinnell College (Iowa) (24-3) and Ohio Northern University (19-5) in the second round on May 11.
Denison University (Ohio) (19-4), Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) (22-7) and Kalamazoo College (Mich.) (9-10) will also participate in the six-team regional.
The bracket may be viewed here.
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