April 8, 2015 By Joe Walsh
The UW-Whitewater softball team came away with four wins April 2 and 3 against the UW-Stout Blue Devils and UW-River Falls Falcons in their first WIAC games.
Sophmores Amy Ricci and Hayley Morelli each had a career day at Stout in the ’Hawks victories 11-0 and 8-3. Both combined to go 8-for-11 from the plate with four doubles and a home run with nine runs batted in on four runs scored in two games.
“I am very happy with my performance at Stout,” Ricci said. “It felt great to start hitting the ball solidly and to start to come out of my slump.”
UW-Stout’s Tori Workman threw three scoreless innings in the first game before Ricci led the charge with a two-out double.
“We were taking to many good pitches and were then being forced to swing at what she wanted us to swing at,” Ricci said. “Once we started being aggressive and swinging at those good pitches right away we were more successful. It helped us get our timing down and we were swinging at what we wanted.”
Bekka Houda pitched a complete game shutout. The senior struck out six, walked two and allowed four hits for her fourth shutout in eight appearances this season.
The ’Hawks scored in five of the seven innings of the game and the UW-Stout pitching staff had no answer.
The ’Hawks quickly scored two runs and head coach Brenda Volk even played a little small ball with a bunt and a slap-hit ground out, to bring in another run and take a 3-0 advantage.
“What has been nice this season is a lot of different people are contributing in different ways,” Volk said. “It seems to be that when people come in the game to do their role they are performing and getting the job done so that is always good to see.”
Ricci went 2-for-2 with a double, homer and four runs batted in to lead the Warhawk offense.
Sporer picked up the complete game win, striking out three to improve to 5-1 on the year.
“Haley and Kelynn both had a great day at the plate too,” Ricci said. “I believe that hitting is just something that is so contagious. The more hits that happen the more energy there is and the more confidence we have.”
The ’Hawks then swept the Falcons in a doubleheader April 3, 3-1 and 11-0 in six innings.
Evangelista led the Warhawks with going 2-for-3 at the plate scoring two runs and notching two RBI’s in the win.
Houda pitched the complete game win to improve to 7-2 this season. The righty struck out seven while walking one and allowing four hits. Houda retired 12 consecutive Falcon batters from the third through the sixth inning.
UW-Whitewater won the second game 11-0 in six innings.
Kelynn Sporer pitched a gem for the complete game one-hitter with three strikeouts to improve to 6-1 on the mound for the Warhawks. The righty never allowed a Falcon past second base in the game.
Mackenzie Price led UW-Whitewater at the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored in the game.
“We hit the ball hard this past week and are getting contributions out of many different people,” Volk said. “Our pitchers have been throwing very well and are throwing strikes so that is always a positive thing.”
