UW-W Softball Season Comes to a Close in NCAA Regionals

*The Warhawks bolt out of the dugout to celebrate after Taylor Koehler hit a homerun to give UWW a 1-0 lead over Bethel (Credit: Angela Kelm)*

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

Pella, Iowa – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team capped the 2024 campaign in the third game of NCAA Regional action Friday in Pella, Iowa. The Warhawks fell to Bethel University 3-1 to close 2024 with a 33-10 overall record.

*Warhawk second baseman fires to first to record a double play on a groundball against Bethel (Credit: Angela Kelm)*

UW-Whitewater opened the scoring in the top of the second. Taylor Koehler blasted her second four-bagger of the season with a deep drive over the wall in center. The Warhawks held the lead and the momentum until Bethel responded with a solo shot of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

The bottom of the fifth saw the winning runs come across the plate as the Royals used four hits to score two more to take the 3-1 lead.

UW-Whitewater had some hard shots off the bat late in the game but couldn’t find any green to get runners on.

Maggie Ward led UWW with a 2-3 game at the plate. Koehler and Meghan Dunning had the other base knocks for the Warhawks in the game.

Maddy Anderson registered the start and went four innings allowing a single run on five hits while fanning three. Brooke Hock suffered the loss to move to 6-3 on the season. Kate Cleveland closed the game allowing just one hit in the final 1.2 innings of work.

The 2024 Warhawks saw the season open with a 13-game win streak. UWW rode a nine-game streak into the NCAA Tournament bolstered by a 4-0 weekend that culminated in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title and automatic bid into NCAA play.