Back-to-back losses send Whitewater softball out of NCAA Tournament

PELLA, Iowa -- The UW-Whitewater softball team had their season ended on Friday after back-to-back losses in the Div. III NCAA Tournament.

The Warhawks opened the day against hosts Central, with the winner guaranteeing themselves a spot in the final day of the regional. The Dutch got on the board early and drove Whitewater starter Brooke Hock from the game after just 2 innings.

Rhiann Dick was brought in as relief but couldn't clean up the mess as Central built a 5-0 lead by the fifth inning. She didn't get much help from her offense, as the Warhawk batters went scoreless until the sixth inning. Central was able to close out the 6-1 win and send the Warhawks to the elimination bracket.

The loss set up a rematch with Bethel, who eliminated UW-Superior with a 10-3 victory earlier in the day.

Just like in the teams' first meeting, it was a close contest. Whitewater got on the board thanks to a solo home run from Taylor Koehler in the second inning. The Warhawks stranded baserunners at second and third after the homer, something they would live to regret.

Bethel's Sidney Bartels tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth inning, and the Royals used four consecutive hits in the fifth inning to add another two runs. They could've added a third run in the inning but the Warhawks were able to make a play at the plate to stop the bleeding.

Royals ace Kayla Simacek was able to shut down Whitewater's batters in the final two innings to seal a 3-1 win and send the Warhawks back to Wisconsin.

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