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.
