By Chris Lindeke
Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Warhawk Softball Advances to WIAC Semifinals
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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team turned in a complete performance Tuesday afternoon to defeat UW-River Falls 9-0 in six innings in the quarterfinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship Presented by Culver’s at van Steenderen Softball Complex.
With the victory, the No. 2 seed Warhawks (27-8 overall) advance to Thursday’s semifinals, where they’ll host fourth-seeded UW-Stevens Point at 2 p.m. in Whitewater.
UW-W, which extended its win streak to 11 games, totaled 10 hits, including three home runs, and didn’t allow a Falcon runner to advance past second base in any of the final four frames.
UW-River Falls (11-18), the tournament’s No. 7 seed, loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second before pitcher Rhiann Dick entered the game and induced a flyout to center to end the threat.
The Warhawks responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs, including a two-run homer by second baseman Delaney Becker and a solo homer by right fielder Taylor Briehl. Catcher Nikki Mikosz plated two more runs to give UW-W a five-run advantage.
In the top of the third, Dick stranded two more base runners, and UW-Whitewater tacked on another run in the bottom half on Becker’s sacrifice fly.
Mikosz brought another run home in the fourth with a base hit to left center, and third baseman Meg Cohrs knocked a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via run rule.
Mikosz finished 2-for-3 with one run scored and three runs batted in, while shortstop Meghan Dunning collected two hits and two runs scored. Briehl finished 2-for-3, and Becker registered one run scored and three RBIs. First baseman Kaleigh O’Brien posted one hit, one walk and two runs scored.
Dick (7-4) tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief for the win. Starter Kate Cleveland didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of work.
UW-Stevens Point (23-15) downed UW-La Crosse by a 4-1 score in the quarterfinals to reach Thursday’s semifinal game.
