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.
